CAPAS, TARLAC — University of Santo Tomas’s Lianne Pama completed a sprint double while Far Eastern University’s Edna Magtubo shattered a 22-year mark in women’s 5000 meters in the in the UAAP Season 88 Athletics Championships on Friday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.
Using her experience to the fullest, the charming Pama, who traces her roots in Marbel, South Cotabato, topped the 200 meters in 24.39 seconds to beat La Salle’s Hanna Delotavo (24.70) and FEU’s Shane Ponce (24.99).
Pama’s gold-medal win in the 200m was a fitting follow up to her victory in the centerpiece 100-meter dash contest where she produced an impressive time of 11.82 seconds — the only sub-12 performance in the final.
But the day belonged to FEU bets who bagged two of the six golds contested for the day to seize the top spot in the standings with 151.5 points.
Magtubo, a 22-year-old product of Mandurriao National High School in Iloilo City, outpaced National University’s Jesse Roda in the women’s 5,000 meters to claim FEU’s first gold of the day in record-breaking fashion.
Her new mark of 17:59.13 shaved nine milliseconds off the 23-year-old record of national track legend Mercedita Manipol, who set 17:59.22 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in 2002.
Roda finished second, crossing the line 37 milliseconds behind Magtubo with 17:59.50, while fellow Lady Tamaraw Nicole Diloy completed the podium at 18:03.01.
Rookie Ana Bhianca Espenilla added a second gold for FEU during the morning session, topping the women’s javelin throw with a 48.00-meter heave, well ahead of University of the Philippines’ Chrizzel Lanipa (38.08) and UE’s Janice Nemi (37.18).
The UST Lady Tracksters slipped to second place with 125 points.
DLSU, Season 86 champions, moved into third place with 94.75 points, thanks to a two-gold performance from fourth-year senior Abcd Agamanos in the afternoon session.
The senior leaper claimed titles in both the triple jump, with a best leap of 12.41 meters, and the heptathlon, amassing 4,432 points, putting the Lady Tracksters back in contention.
Rea Rafanan also earned silver in both events, finishing behind Agamanos with 12.08 meters in the triple jump and 4,175 points in the heptathlon.
UST’s Jeanne Arnibal captured bronze in the triple jump with 12.08 meters, while FEU’s Antonette Aguillon rounded out the heptathlon podium with 4,013 points.
On the men’s side, Season 86 champions National University overtook UST for the lead with 91.5 points over the latter’s 83, fueled by Rico Jay Patanao’s gold in the 10,000 meters.
The senior Bulldog crossed the finish line in 32:44.72, ahead of reigning MVP Alfrence Braza (32:52.39) and UP’s Roy Laudit (32:56.66).
Other universities shared the remaining golds as three more emerged victorious in their respective events.
Joshua Patorara of DLSU claimed the long jump title, surpassing heavy favorites Adamson University’s Kent Francis Jardin and UP’s Clint Neri, setting a new record of 7.44 meters.
Patorara’s mark broke the previous standard of national team standout Janry Ubas, who jumped 7.39 meters in Season 80 (2017), while Jardin and Neri recorded 7.38 and 7.17 meters, respectively.
UE’s Vianmar Dela Cruz successfully defended his 10,000-meter racewalk title, clocking a new record of 45:12.61, shattering his own 48:27.08 mark set last season at the same Capas venue.
Carlos De Imus, now representing FEU, finished second with 46:25.25, while NU’s John Aaron Arandia placed third at 48:23.23.
Jardin redeemed himself in the 200 meters, taking gold for Adamson with a time of 21.58 seconds, just ahead of FEU’s Andreas Womack (21.70) and UP’s Alhryan Labita (21.85).
NU held a slim 3.5-point lead over FEU, which ended the day with 88 points.
UST and reigning men’s champion UP remained within striking distance with 83 and 82 points, respectively.
