The DLSU Green and Lady Tracksters triumphly wrapped up their UAAP Season 88 Athletics Championship campaigns, held from November 6 to 9 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium. The Lady Tracksters earned second runner-up with 217.75 points, improving from their fourth-place finish last season. The Green Tracksters, however, finished in eighth place, mirroring their performance in Season 87.
With their improved standing, the Lady Tracksters, led by Abcd Agamanos, Trixie Dela Torre, Hannah Delotavo, and Erica Ruto, broke the UAAP record for the 4×100-meter Relay, clocking in at 46.73 seconds. Green Tracksters’ Joshua Patorara managed to break the record for the Men’s Long Jump with a leap of 7.44 meters—a saving grace despite the team’s standing this season.
Gradual ascend
The Lady Tracksters fell short on opening day, but eventually overturned their fortunes on the following day, earning multiple medals to clinch a podium finish. Delotavo—in her final season—claimed second place in the Women’s 200m, with teammate Lea Ordinario following behind as the fifth placer. Abcd Agamanos soared to a gold medal in the Triple Jump, while Rea Rafanan finished just behind her, securing the silver medal.
Meanwhile, Patorara, despite the Green Tracksters finishing last place overall, set a remarkable UAAP record for the Men’s Long Jump to claim the gold medal. Transferee Matt Obiena also made a strong debut in Pole Vault, finishing in a solid fourth place.
In the tense buildup to his record-breaking attempt, Patorara turned to instinct and trust in his coach’s call. “Nakatulong po ‘yung pag-adjust ko sa dulo nung last jump ko kasi sabi ni coach mafa-foul ako dun ‘pag ‘di ako nag-adjust, kaya sinunod ko siya.”
(I made a change at the end of my final jump because my coach warned I might foul if I didn’t. I followed his instructions and adjusted my approach.)
The calculated move paid off more than he imagined, breaking the UAAP record in stunning fashion. “Hindi naman po ako nag-expect. Nagulat lang po ako sa talon ko na na-break ko ‘yung record,” he added, still in awe of how the moment unfolded.
(I didn’t expect it; I was just surprised that my jump broke the record.)
Final surge
The Green Tracksters opened Day Three with a blistering performance as Patorara—coming just a day after he electrified the crowd by setting a new UAAP record—took silver in the Men’s Triple Jump with a mark of 15.11 meters. Teammate Nielmar Medrocillo added to the Green-and-White’s medal tally with a bronze in Javelin Throw, giving the squad a pair of podium finishes to build on. The Lady Tracksters turned the afternoon into a statement, securing a one-two finish in the Women’s 400-meter dash, with Ordinario powering to gold with a time of 56.62 seconds and Delotavo closing just behind in 56.98 seconds. The momentum continued in the sprints as the quartet of Agamanos, Delotavo, Ruto, and Dela Torre swept the Women’s 4×100-meter Relay, not only taking gold, but doing so in record time of 46.73 seconds to etch their names in the UAAP history books.
On the tournament’s last day, the Lady Tracksters kept racking up hardware. Delotavo grabbed bronze in the 400-meter Hurdles, while Agamanos produced a gutsy finish, taking bronze in the 100-meter Hurdles with a time of 14.68 seconds, a razor-thin 0.02 seconds shy of the silver medal. She then added a second medal, notching bronze in the long jump. To seal the campaign, the quartet of Delotavo, Ordinario, Ruto, and Ashley Tabad combined for gold in the Women’s 4×400-meter Relay, a triumphant bookend coming a day after the team had set the UAAP mark in the 4×100-meter Relay.
As her playing year in the collegiate league came to an end, Delotavo made sure to leave a lasting impact on the field: “Coming into the season, we knew it would be tough. Many of our top players had already graduated. So, as seniors, especially me as the eldest, we had to step up. We weren’t the favorites, but as Coach Jeoff [Chua] always reminded us: trust and chemistry in every baton pass could make all the difference, and it truly did.”
Finishing with 217.75 points, the Lady Tracksters climbed back onto the podium with their late-day medal haul, including relay golds and several individual podiums, turning a near-miss into a bronze finish. The Green Tracksters remained in eighth place with 52.25 points, but the individual medals this year showed clear progress from their previous campaign. Both squads now look to build on their momentum as they set their sights on an even stronger showing in UAAP Season 89.
