By: Miguel Marco
After missing last season, Far Eastern University’s Carlos De Imus returned to the UAAP with a point to prove — and he did so in record-breaking fashion.
The 25-year-old Tamaraw shattered the men’s 5,000-meter race walk record, clocking 21:17.04 at the UAAP Season 88 collegiate men’s athletics tournament, eclipsing the previous mark of 22:42.21 set by University of the East’s Vianmar Dela Cruz in Season 85.
Aside from rewriting the UAAP record books, De Imus also clinched a silver medal in the 10km race walk with a time of 46:25.25.
“Since Season 85 na wala ako sa UAAP, yun yung naging motivation ko. Gusto ko magiging memorable yung last playing season ko. Kailangan talaga ma-break yung record,” De Imus said.
But his UAAP comeback was not his first step on the international stage.
Earlier this year, he set a new national record of 1:30:00.03 in the men’s 20-kilometer race walk at the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan, surpassing Michael Embudo’s 2009 mark of 1:30:51.
De Imus shared that his preseason experiences laid the groundwork for his dominant UAAP Season 88 showing and fueled his preparation for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in December.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Since last year pa nag-mindset ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, pag bumalik man ako sa pagiging athlete ko this year, I will make use out of it, all out na,” he said.
“Lahat ng achievements ko ngayon, dahil yan doon sa mga reflections ko habang nagre-rest ako.”
Now pursuing a Master’s in Learning and Teaching in Physical Education at FEU, De Imus revealed that he decided to transfer from UST — where he previously competed in Seasons 81 and 85 — after facing personal conflicts.
“Gusto ko sana mag-stay sa UST, but may taong naghadlang sa akin para mag-stay doon,” he said. “So naghanap agad ako ng school na pwedeng malipatan. Sabi ko, try ko ‘tong FEU, baka kunin nila ako. So sila na yung first choice ko. ‘Di na ako naghanap ng ibang team.”
Beyond his athletic and academic pursuits, De Imus also serves in the Philippine Army, where he enlisted shortly after representing the country in the ASEAN University Games in Indonesia last year.
“Military obligation siya at nagtrabaho ako for ilang months. So dire-diretso yun. But pinayagan nila ako mag-study at mag-training. Blessed ako kasi pinayagan nila ako,” he shared.
Balancing his duties as an athlete, soldier, and graduate student, De Imus admitted that finding his rhythm again after a break was his biggest challenge.
“Pag galing ka sa malakas na performance, lagi mong hinahanap yung sarili mo e, kung paano ka babalik doon. Sobrang struggle siya,” he shared. “Pero feel ko naman na nafu-fulfill ko yung sarili ko ngayon.”
Looking ahead, De Imus is ready to focus on both his 33rd Southeast Games campaign in Thailand and his forthcoming military training next year.
“This coming 2026, inexpect ko na na papasok na ako sa military training, basic military training. Siguro sa first semester is that susulitin ko na muna yung mga competition na pwede ibigay sa akin,” he said.
