UAAP: Tracksters take a step back in Season 76

Both the DLSU Green Tracksters and Lady Tracksters came up short in this year’s UAAP Season 76 Athletics tournament as they both fell by a place in the standings this season, finishing at fourth and fifth place respectively. The tournament was held last December 5-8 at De La Salle University Dasmarinas after perennially being staged at the historic Rizal Memorial track oval.

The Green Tracksters’ total of 16 medals earned them the fourth spot in the tournament while the Lady Tracksters, who have fewer athletes and participate in less events compared to their male counterparts, matched their medal total from last year with three and earned a fifth place finish.

The Green Tracksters were led by Patrick Unso as he garnered five medals, in which two were gold from the 110 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles. Team Captain Ico Ejercito helped DLSU’s cause with his two silver medals, which he won in the 4×100 meter and the 4×400 meter relays. Jasper Tanhueco also added three medals, a gold and two silvers, from the 100 meter and 4×100 meter relay, respectively.

Matteo Cu-Unjieng completed the four-man lineup for the 4×100 meter relay team that took home the silver medal. Mico del Prado ran along with Unso, Ejercito and Tanhueco in the 4×400 meter event where they earned a silver medal. To complete the track events, Johnrey Moreno placed second in the individual event of the 3000 steeple chase.

In the field events of the competition, Gerald Layumas contributed a silver medal for the team by placing second in the triple jump. Mat Crespo and Rj Cabanyog added a bronze medal to the team’s tally by placing third in the hammer throw and discus throw events respectively.

Meanwhile, for the fifth place Lady Tracksters, Precious Que garnered the silver medal in the 100 meter hurdles and won bronze for the heptathlon event. Lyra Baytan was the only other Lady Trackster to bring home a medal as she paced third in the 5000 meter event.

The FEU Tracksters once again dominated the UAAP Track and Field tourney as they won the Men’s and Women’s Divisions this season to continue their tradition of dominance. UST and UP came in afterwards with their 24 and 18 points, respectively.

Though the Tracksters failed to meet their expectations of a championship in UAAP 76, the team as a whole has many things to be proud of, including the 19 total medals that the squad garnered for La Salle. Moreover, the Tracksters’ 14 points came out big as the Green-and-White still holds the first place in the GC race with 176 points combined. UST is not far away though with their 170 points.

Next year, things will definitely be different and fans can expect the Green-and-White squad to improve  on their showing after this year’s rookie-laden squad enters the tourney with a year’s worth of experience under their belts.