CAPAS, TARLAC — National University flexed its strength in the final event of Day 3, the 5,000 meters, to seize the lead in the tight race for the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Athletics Championship on Saturday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.
Although the Bulldogs missed out on the gold in the event, all four NU participants scored points, putting the Season 86 champions slightly ahead of the eight-team field with 198.5 markers in the tournament, which is backed by CF Moto and Masiv Sports.
Roy Laudit of University of the Philippines claimed the gold with a time of 15:23.30, well ahead of the pack, but the 2-3 finish of NU’s Noli Torre (15:29.84) and Rico Jay Patanao (15:36.12) pushed the Bulldogs into the top spot. Fellow Bulldogs Renz Cruz and Rabhy Seno followed in fifth and sixth, respectively.
“The goal of the team is my priority; ayaw kong mabigo sila coach. That’s why I gave my best para mahabol ang puntos,” said Torre, a transferee from Jose Rizal University, after FEU snatched the lead the previous day.
Torre and Patanao also captured the silver and bronze, respectively, in the 1,500 meters, finishing behind reigning MVP Alfrence Braza of FEU, who clocked 3:58.04. Torre crossed the line in 4:00.02, with Patanao close behind at 4:00.18.
FEU Keeps Pressure
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Braza’s gold was complemented by a record-breaking performance from Carlos De Imus in the men’s 5,000-meter race walk, keeping the Tamaraws within striking distance of the leading Bulldogs.
De Imus finished in 21:17.04, smashing the previous record of 22:42.21 set by University of the East’s Vianmar Dela Cruz in Season 85 (2023). Dela Cruz (21:58.72) and NU’s Aaron Arandia (23:31.64) took silver and bronze, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
FEU also took the 4×100-meter relay gold with yet another UAAP record, with Pacifico Tolentino, Joseph Antiola III, Joshua Bercasio, and Andres Womack finishing in 41.58 seconds, helping the Tamaraws close the day with 167 points in what promises to be a fiercely contested men’s title.
The mark broke the previous standard of 41.77 seconds set by UP in Season 81 (2018) and UST last season.
Those two universities, UST (42.10) and UP (42.25), completed the podium in this year’s edition.
UP Rises to Third With Three Golds
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, three golds, including that of Laudit, propelled the Fighting Maroons into third place with 158 points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Second-year standout Ranier Sobrepeña kicked off the haul with a record-breaking leap of 15.42 meters in the long jump, surpassing the old mark of 15.29 meters set by FEU’s Ronne Malipay in Season 81 (2018). DLSU’s Joshua Patorara finished second with 15.11 meters, while last year’s winner, Clint Niño Neri of UP, completed the podium with 14.48 meters.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Seasons 85 and 86 MVP Alhryan Labita, competing in the 400 meters for the national team, claimed gold in 47.77 seconds. Labita pulled away late from Ateneo’s Hussein Lorana (48.18) and NU’s John Lloyd Cabalo (48.30), who finished second and third.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The final men’s gold of the day went to UST’s John Allen Butiong in the javelin throw with a winning mark of 59.65 meters, ahead of Ateneo’s Emilio Roman (59.28) and DLSU’s Nielmar Medrocillo (58.07).
FEU Extends Women’s Lead
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the women’s side, FEU maintained its lead with 246.5 points, powered by Edna Magtubo’s second gold of the tournament, taking the 10,000 meters with a time of 38:10.98. UP’s Mary Jane Pagayon (39:42.55) and UST’s Asia Paraasee (39:57.01) followed more than a minute later.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Lady Tamaraws demonstrated their depth in the 1,500 meters, with all four participants scoring points.
Senior Susan Ramadan led the way with a winning time of 4:53.37. NU’s Jessa Roda finished close behind in 4:53.53, while FEU’s Nicole Duloy (4:53.61) and Magtubo (4:54.38) took third and fourth, with Meljoy Gonzales rounding out the top six.
Record-Breaking Women’s Performances Continue
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST’s Azaneth Serat also added a second gold of the season in the women’s 3,000-meter race walk, breaking her own record with a mark of 14:45.54.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ma. Khrizzie Ruzol contributed another gold in the pole vault, clearing 3.15 meters. UP’s Isabelle Sta. Maria (3.10) and UE’s Bea Pelaez (2.60) completed the podium.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Chrizzel Lanipa’s gold in the discus throw, with 44.33 meters, kept UP in contention, followed by FEU’s Rhealyn De Costa (43.60) and Adamson’s Keisha Tolin (42.15).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Season 86 women’s champion DLSU captured the remaining golds, with rookie Lea Ordinario winning the 400 meters in 56.62 seconds, just ahead of teammate Hannah Delotavo (56.98) and UST’s Jessa Belinario (57.04).
Delotavo then helped the DLSU 4×100-meter relay quartet—Trixie Dela Torre, Erica Ruto, and Abcd Agamanos—reclaim the title in 46.73 seconds, a new record that reset FEU’s old mark of 46.84 set last season, ahead of UST (46.87) and FEU (47.53).
Weather permitting, the final day on Sunday will decide this season’s champions in what promises to be a down-to-the-wire finish.
