FEU moves into UAAP Women's Athletics lead, anchored on Magtubo 5k record

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Athletics Team Standings

Men’s
NU - 91.5
FEU - 88
UST - 83
UP - 82
Ateneo - 52
AdU - 44
DLSU - 23
UE -23

Women’s
FEU - 151.5
UST - 125
DLSU - 94.75
UE - 78.75
UP - 74
AdU - 42
NU - 29.5
Ateneo - 7

CAPAS, TARLAC — Far Eastern University charged back in the women’s division after edging out erstwhile leader University of Santo Tomas at the conclusion of Day 2 of the UAAP Season 88 Athletics Championships on Friday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.

The Lady Tamaraws, aiming for their 26th UAAP title, seized the top spot in the standings with 151.5 points, claiming two of the six golds contested on the day.

Second-year standout Edna Magtubo led the charge for the reigning champions in this tournament, backed by CF Moto and Masiv Sports.

Magtubo, a 22-year-old product of Mandurriao National High School in Iloilo City, outpaced National University's Jesse Roda in the women’s 5,000 meters to claim FEU’s first gold of the day in record-breaking fashion.

Her new mark of 17:59.13 shaved nine milliseconds off the nearly 13-year-old record of national track legend Mercedita Manipol, who set 17:59.22 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in 2002.

“Hindi ko rin po kasi talaga inaasahan na makuha ko siya kasi nga alam ko po na malakas rin ‘yung mga kalaban. Nagpapasalamat lang din po ako kay Lord na ligtas po ako sa laban at walang naging injury,” said Magtubo. “Ang tinitignan ko po talaga ‘yung kalaban; hindi ko naman po nalaman na na-break ko na pala ‘yung record.

“Ang iniisip ko lang naman po namin talaga is paano kami mag-me-medal, paano kami pupuntos. Suporta lang po sa isa’t isa.”

Roda finished second, crossing the line 37 milliseconds behind Magtubo with 17:59.50, while fellow Lady Tamaraw Nicole Diloy completed the podium at 18:03.01.

Rookie Ana Bhianca Espenilla added a second gold for FEU during the morning session, topping the women’s javelin throw with a 48.00-meter heave, well ahead of University of the Philippines’ Chrizzel Lanipa (38.08) and UE’s Janice Nemi (37.18).

The UST Lady Tracksters slipped to second place with 125 points, buoyed by Lianne Pama’s second gold of the season in the 200 meters with a time of 24.39 seconds, ahead of De La Salle University’s Hanna Delotavo (24.70) and FEU’s Shane Ponce (24.99).

DLSU, Season 86 champions, moved into third place with 94.75 points, thanks to a two-gold performance from fourth-year senior Abcd Agamanos in the afternoon session.

The senior leaper claimed titles in both the triple jump, with a best leap of 12.41 meters, and the heptathlon, amassing 4,432 points, putting the Lady Tracksters back in contention.

Rea Rafanan also earned silver in both events, finishing behind Agamanos with 12.08 meters in the triple jump and 4,175 points in the heptathlon.

UST’s Jeanne Arnibal captured bronze in the triple jump with 12.08 meters, while FEU’s Antonette Aguillon rounded out the heptathlon podium with 4,013 points.

On the men’s side, Season 86 champions National University overtook UST for the lead with 91.5 points over the latter’s 83, fueled by Rico Jay Patanao’s gold in the 10,000 meters.

The senior Bulldog crossed the finish line in 32:44.72, ahead of reigning MVP Alfrence Braza (32:52.39) and UP’s Roy Laudit (32:56.66).

Other universities shared the remaining golds as three more emerged victorious in their respective events.

Joshua Patorara of DLSU claimed the long jump title, surpassing heavy favorites Adamson University’s Kent Francis Jardin and UP’s Clint Neri, setting a new record of 7.44 meters.

Patorara’s mark broke the previous standard of national team standout Janry Ubas, who jumped 7.39 meters in Season 80 (2017), while Jardin and Neri recorded 7.38 and 7.17 meters, respectively.

UE’s Vianmar Dela Cruz successfully defended his 10,000-meter racewalk title, clocking a new record of 45:12.61, shattering his own 48:27.08 mark set last season at the same Capas venue.

Carlos De Imus, now representing FEU, finished second with 46:25.25, while NU’s John Aaron Arandia placed third at 48:23.23.

Jardin redeemed himself in the 200 meters, taking gold for Adamson with a time of 21.58 seconds, just ahead of FEU’s Andreas Womack (21.70) and UP’s Alhryan Labita (21.85).

NU held a slim 3.5-point lead over FEU, which ended the day with 88 points.

UST and reigning men’s champion UP remained within striking distance with 83 and 82 points, respectively.