By: Nicole Parallag
CAPAS, TARLAC — University of Santo Tomas asserted early dominance in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions after an explosive opening day of the UAAP Season 88 High School Athletics Championships at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.
CEBALLOS LEADS RECORD-BREAKING CHARGE
Leading the charge for the defending champions, Jayvee Ceballos shattered a decade-old record in the boys’ hammer throw. He unleashed a 43.22-meter heave to eclipse the 41.18-meter mark set by Ateneo’s Matt Crespo on July 12, 2012, at the Philsports Track and Football Stadium.
Ateneo’s Alessandro Nieto took silver with 40.55 meters, while UST’s Tayshaun Donasco completed the podium at 40.35 meters.
“Medyo nabigla din po ako considering medyo nilo-look up ko na yung record training pa lang namin,” shared Ceballos.
“Tinitingnan ko lang po ‘yung record — bonus na lang po talaga ‘yung medal para sa akin. So happy po ako, thank you sa mga coaches and teammates sa pagtulong sa akin makuha ito,” he added.
Fellow Junior Golden Trackster Charles Alcantara bagged silver in the boys’ triple jump with a leap of 14.14 meters.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
However, Efosa John Paul Aguinaldo of National University Nazareth School soared to gold with a record-breaking 14.78 meters, surpassing the 14.15-meter mark set by Kent Jardin in Season 85 on November 30, 2022.
UE’s Erzl Borres secured his second straight bronze with a 14.00-meter effort.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST’s golden momentum continued as Novie Jay Masangcap ruled the boys’ 800-meter run, clocking 1:53.20. UE’s Anthony Cariaso came agonizingly close, missing gold by just five milliseconds at 1:53.25, while NUNS’ Jerico Cadag claimed bronze with 1:54.20.
LADY TRACKSTERS SHINE IN SPRINTS, MIDDLE DISTANCES
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the girls’ division, Liana Ascan led the Junior Tigress Tracksters’ charge, capturing gold in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.34. Adamson University’s Erika Joy Dorado followed for silver at 2:26.61, while UST’s Shaina Igcas took bronze in 2:30.84.
The Junior Tigress Tracksters’ dominance carried over to the sprints as Franceine Jhobie Rosario broke UE’s Jeralyn Rodriguez’s record in the girls’ 100 meters, clocking 11.97 seconds to surpass the 12.28-second mark set in Season 87.
Adamson’s Juvelle Matnog settled for silver with 12.25 seconds, while UST’s Lhynette Libranda finished third in 12.48 seconds.
After Day 1, the Junior Tiger Tracksters led the standings with 112 points, closely trailed by the Baby Falcons with 106, while the Bullpups sat in third with 54.
In the girls’ division, the Junior Lady Tracksters of UST also seized the early lead with 87 points, followed by defending champion the Junior Lady Warriors with 73, and the Lady Baby Falcons just a point behind with 72.
ADAMSON, DURDEN MAKE MARK
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson’s Kent Ebron joined the record-breaking spree in the boys’ pole vault, clearing 4.15 meters to erase the 3.89-meter mark set by John Rey Magallanes on February 10, 2012, in Pasig.
Fellow Soaring Falcon John Philip Villar took silver with 3.55 meters, while UST’s Gray Cloud Garcia settled for bronze, also with 3.55 meters.
Record-smashing performances extended to the race walk events as Adamson’s Abdul Saud and Palarong Pambansa standout Sepmas Placido dominated their respective divisions — the boys’ 5000 meters and girls’ 2000 meters.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Saud struck gold with a meet-record 23:55.35, obliterating UST’s Gabriel Cervantes’ previous mark of 25:59.95.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Placido rewrote her own UAAP record with 10:03.19.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Breaking UE’s two-year reign in the girls’ shot put, Adamson’s Niorwyne Edrada clinched gold with 10.43 meters.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Asian Youth Games gold medalist Pi Wangkay Durden delivered De La Salle Zobel’s first gold of the tournament in the boys’ 100 meters, clocking 10.88 seconds, with UST’s Prince Cuyos narrowly taking silver.
