Eduard Josh Buenavista broke a long-standing 10,000-meter record to help the reigning men’s champion University of the Philippines build a 23-point lead in the UAAP Season 85 Collegiate Athletics Championships Thursday at the Philsports Oval in Pasig City.
The son of marathon legend and South Cotabato pride Eduardo Buenavista clocked 32:08.30 that enabled him to eclipse the previous best of 32:38.88 set by Far Eastern University’s Nelbert Ducusin 17 seasons ago.
Buenavista shared the limelight with fellow UP bet in Rhyan Labita who completed a sprint double after winning the 200 meters in 22.20 seconds.
The rookie sensation likewise led an impressive 1-2-3 finish by UP long distance runners as Eduard Flores and Roy Laudit took the silver and bronze medals.
The Fighting Maroons now have 140 points against the 117 of former seven-time champion Far Eastern University which pulled off a 1-2 finish in the decathlon.
La Salle likewise kept its hold in the women’s division despite the resurgence of University of Santo Tomas.
Also delivering for FEU was John Rafols who reigned in men’s long jump with a leap of 7.32 meters, beating UP’s Clint Neri (7.20).
UST’s Lianne Pama, who traces her roots to Koronadal, South Cotabato and daughter of Arnel Pama, authored the other new record, winning the 200m gold in 24.35 to obliterate the old mark of 24.47 set University of the East’s Jenny Rose Rosales in Season 76 in Dasmariñas, Cavite. She also won the 100m to complete a sprint double.
Lanie Carpentero and Efralyn Democer made it 1-2 for UST in the javelin throw with 43.08 and 40.45 meters, respectively, while Faith Gonzales denied DLSU’s Abcd Agamanos in the triple jump, 12.10 meters to 11.89.
