Promise Fulfilled: DLSU Tracksters end S86 with the coveted title
The De La Salle University Track and Field team capped off their Season 86 campaign with a championship for the Lady Tracksters yesterday, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. They end the season with 301 points, a comfortable 33 points off second-placers Far Eastern University.
Team captain Franz Bintad fulfills the promises of yesteryears. Season 82 was projected to be a big year, but alas the pandemic put a stop to those plans. The Season 85 team, then captained by Daniela Daynata, finished just twenty points behind University of Sto. Tomas.
“Sabi ko sa inyo (magch-champion kami)!
Super grateful po ako sa teammate(s) ko na binuhos po lahat ng effort sa larong ito. Di ko po ma-explain yung saya ko ngayon na natupad namin yung goal namin.” This marks the last moments playing under the Green and White for the graduating Bintad.
The last day of the Track and Field Championships started the afternoon with the hurdle heats. Reymark Godoy raced for the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Abcd Agamanos raced for third in the heats, qualifying her for the 100-meter hurdle finals later in the evening.
The long jump event would be conducted under the afternoon sun. It was no problem though for the trio of Trexie dela Torre, Abcd Agamanos, and Mica Cabaddu. Dela Torre would end up with the silver medal, recording a jump of 5.96 meters.
Rookie Ana Marie Eugenio featured in the 3000-meter women’s steeplechase, finishing just a few places shy off a podium spot.
With the finals round of the 100-meter women’s hurdles, Abcd Agamanos made sure to claim gold. She topped University of the East’s Patricia Lobos and eventual Rookie of the Year Jeanne Arnibal from UST.
The 4x400-meter relay was the highlight of the night. The Lady Tracksters were represented by Hannah Delotavo, Bernalyn Bejoy, Erica Ruto, and Jessel Lumapas. They cruised to an easy win over a full field of opponents. The Green Tracksters finished 5th in the final event of the night, participated in by Jiriel John Aytona, Frances Velasquez, Vito Carpena, and Reymark Godoy.
The Green Tracksters settle for seventh in the overall championships, besting Ateneo. Francis Obiena holds the lone medal for the team, a silver in the pole vault event. Bintad has nothing but respect and is still proud of them, stating,“Sobrang proud din po ako sa men’s namin. Kasi lahat ng effort binuhos nila…and that’s very, nakakaproud po.”
The MVP plum for the women’s side was crowned to national team mainstay Bernalyn Bejoy. Her exploits include golds in the 400-meter hurdles, 400-meter run, 4x400-meter women’s relay, with bronze medals in the 200-meter run and 4x400-meter mixed relay.
The championship marks DLSU’s first title in track and field since 2004, nearly two decades ago. It is only the school’s second athletics title since joining the UAAP in 1986. Franz Bintad relays that the team went through a lot to get here. From a disgruntled team that crumbled down mid-tourney last season, to a team with connection.
“We share the same goal.”
