GOLDEN FINISH. University of the Philippines sophomore Alhryan Labita (No. 705) rules the men's 200-meter dash in record-breaking fashion in the UAAP Season 86 athletics competition at PhilSports track oval in Pasig City on Thursday (Nov. 23, 2023). Labita set a new UAAP record of 21.42 seconds for his second gold after defending his 100m title, also in record-breaking finish. (Photo courtesy of UAAP)
MANILA – University of the Philippines sophomore Alhryan Labita broke another record en route to his second gold medal in the UAAP Season 86 athletics competition at PhilSports track oval in Pasig City on Thursday night.
Labita ruled the men’s 200-meter dash in 21.42 seconds, 0.01 faster than the record of De La Salle's Ralph Soguilon established in Season 67.
Adamson University rookie Kent Francis Jardin settled for the silver medal with a time of 21.84 seconds, while National University's Orly Orongan (21.97) bagged the bronze.
"It feels unreal pa rin po kasi I wasn't expecting na mag-break ako ng mga records this season. Kaya sobrang gulat pa rin ako until now (It still feels unreal because I wasn't expecting to break records this season. So, I'm still very surprised until now)," said Labita, who defended his 100m title also in record-breaking fashion on Wednesday.
Clint Niño Neri gave the Fighting Maroons another gold medal following his victory in the long jump. He posted 7.36 meters to beat University of the East's Edgie Garbin (7.22m) and Jardin (7.10m).
Josh Buenavista (10,000m) and Peter Lachica (10,000m walk) delivered two silver medals for UP, which now has 116 points to grab the lead from NU (107 points).
UE is third with two gold medals coming from Vincent Dela Cruz (10,000m walk) and James Orduña (10,000m).
In the women's category, University of Santo Tomas' Lianne Pama set a new record of 24.16 seconds in winning the 200m, erasing the 24.35s she set last season.
La Salle's Jessel Lumapas (24.76) was second, followed by Bernalyn Bejoy (24.88).
UST's Lanie Carpentero (javelin throw) and Jeanne Arnibal (triple jump) also won their events, while UP's Abegail Manzano ruled the 5,000m event.
2 golds for Ateneo swim team
Ateneo de Manila University, meanwhile, kicked off its title defense bid with two gold medals in the swimming tournament at Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Rafael Barreto and Season 85 Most Valuable Player Phillip Joaquin Santos topped their events for the Blue Eagles, who also bagged two silvers and two bronzes to earn 102 points in the men's division.
Barreto won the 100m freestyle in 52.78 seconds, beating teammate Juan Marco Daos (53.24s). University of the Philippines rookie Matthew Alumbres clocked 53.34s to claim the bronze medal.
Santos, on the other hand, clocked 2:10.41 to keep the 200m Individual Medley title. La Salle's Ted Laminta (2:12.11) and Philip Sahagun (2:13.90) finished second and third, respectively.
La Salle bounced back in the 800m freestyle event, winning the gold medal courtesy of Alexander Chu (8:48.39) over Santos (8:52.88) and Daos (8:53.03).
“I prepared a lot for that 800m freestyle because I really wanted to get a medal, and distance is really one of my main events,” Chu said. “Ateneo was always 1, 2, and 3 in the previous years, so me being first earlier was a big surprise for me.”
UST dominated the 4x50m medley relay (John Neil Paderes, Lance Lotino, Jules Mirandilla, and Johan Aguilen) while UP won the 4x200m freestyle relay (Alumbres, Kensaku Hatazawa, Ethan Chua, and Keane Ting).
In the women's category, Camille Buico (100m freestyle) and Julian Villanueva (800m freestyle) delivered the gold medals for UP, which tallied 91 points after also scooping two silvers and two bronzes.
Meanwhile, UST collected six gold medals in the high school division. Ateneo secured three while UP Integrated School got one.
The UST boys' team ruled the 800m freestyle (Aishel Evangelista), 200m IM (Marcus De Kam), 4x50m medley relay (Ryian Belen, Shawn Castro, Jullian De Kam, and Jabrielle Delizo), and 4x200m freestyle relay (Evangelista, Jullian De Kam, Angelo Sadol and Jose Emmanuel Austria).
The girls' squad, on the other hand, topped the 4x50m medley relay (Ishaelle Villa, Clara Delos Santos, Sinagtala Cuevas and Gerice Oyaman), and the 4x200m freestyle relay (Laureen Daiz, Hanna Sales, Daryn Santa Maria, and Sealtiel Daiz II).
Other winners were Ivo Enot (boys 100m freestyle) and siblings Liaa Amoguis (girls 800m freestyle) and Lora Amoguis (200m IM) of Ateneo; and Aubrey Tom (girls 100m freestyle) of UPIS. (PNA)
