By: Nicole Parallag
CAPAS, Tarlac – Jeralyn Rodriguez and Kharis Pantonial stole the spotlight on a record-breaking Day Two of the UAAP Season 87 High School Athletics Championships on Monday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here, shattering 200-meter dash records in their respective divisions.
Rodriguez of University of the East claimed her third gold medal of the meet, adding to her victories in the 100-meter and 800-meter events. The 17-year-old from Las Piñas surpassed the previous record of 25.05 seconds, set by National University Nazareth School’s Jessel Lumapas in Season 85, with a remarkable time of 24.92 seconds.
This marked her second record-breaking performance of the season, having earlier clocked 12.29 seconds in the 100-meter dash to beat UST’s Iza Lorraine Pangilinan, who posted 12.43 seconds.
Rodriguez’s achievements propelled the Junior Lady Warriors into the lead with 211.5 points, overtaking defending champions UST Junior Female Tracksters, who ended the day with 175.5 points.
“Masaya po kasi pinangarap ko rin po makahawak ng record. Since Grade 6 and Grade 7, puro talo po ako. Kaya masayang-masaya po ako,” said Rodriguez, a Sports Track student. “Sana po mag-champion kami ngayon at makahabol sa puntos. Kung di po nila nakuha dati, sana masungkit namin ngayon.”
Pantonial’s Double Record
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
NUNS’s Kharis Pantonial, a Cebu native, also delivered an outstanding performance, breaking records twice in the boys’ 200 meters. He first surpassed Adamson University’s Dave Tumangan’s Season 86 mark of 21.99 seconds with a time of 21.92 in the heats, then reset it in the finals with a gold-winning 21.72 seconds.
De La Salle Zobel’s Durden Wangkay secured silver with 22.38 seconds, while NUNS’s Larry Taripe clinched bronze with 22.58 seconds.
UST’s Lea Kriszeda took silver in the girls’ 200 meters, finishing behind Rodriguez with 25.89 seconds, while UE’s Ashley Tabad earned bronze with 25.95 seconds.
More Record-Breaking Performances
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the morning session, Lyka Mae Raterta of UST claimed the first gold for the defending champions in the girls’ 3,000-meter run, finishing in 11:28.2. Adamson’s Nene Mianague followed with silver at 11:32.7, while UST’s Marie Sio earned bronze with 11:44.6.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Adamson’s Irene Joy Veloso dominated the javelin throw with a new record of 35.44 meters. NUNS’s Princess Iglesias took silver with 33.54 meters, while UE’s Norwyne Edrada settled for bronze with 32.05 meters.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UE’s Janice Nemi set a new heptathlon record with a total of 3,739 points, surpassing last season’s mark set by UST’s Lyka Miravelles.
The day ended with another record-breaking feat in the high school mixed 4×400-meter relay.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
NUNS’s team of Taripe, Jean Albaciete, Pantonial, and Jamaica Santiago set a new standard of 3:43.96, breaking the previous record of 3:50.21 set by Adamson’s relay team of Athena Besana, Hussein Loraña, Juvelle Matnog, and Tumangan.
Other Boys’ Division Highlights
Adamson’s Kurt Ragudos claimed his second gold of the meet in the boys’ long jump, leaping 6.67 meters. UST’s Kevin Banda secured silver with 6.36 meters, while Ragudos’ teammate, Aaron Prince Angeles, took bronze with 6.25 meters.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the discus throw, UST’s Jayvee Ceballos secured the gold with a toss of 38.58 meters. Adamson’s John de Guzman earned silver with 36.79 meters, while UST’s John Calapuan added a bronze with 36.66 meters.
The UAAP Season 87 Athletics Championships resume on Tuesday at 6:00 a.m.
