Alrhyan Labita of the University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas’ Lianne Pama keep their status as the sprint king and queen of the UAAP Athletics after topping their respective events in record-ripping fashion on Wednesday at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City.
Labita banked on his explosive start to rule the men’s 100-meter dash in 10.57 seconds, enough to better his own mark of 10.66 seconds which he established in one of the afternoon heats.
That broke the11-year-old standard of 10.89 seconds of former national team standout Jesson Cid.
The charming Pama was equally spectacular.
The long-legged Pama, who traces her roots in Koronadal, South Cotabato, blew past her rivals like a wind on the way to retaining her crown in 11.84 seconds.
That capped her wondrous day after she shattered her mark of 11.74 seconds by clocking 11.71 in one of the heats early in the day.
Also living up to their status were NU’s Tyronne Flores, who collected his third straight gold in shotput in 14.93 meters that shattered the previous mark of 14.14m which he logged last year.
NU’s John Lloyd Cabalo and Edwin Mancao finished 1-2 in the 800m with the former clocking 1:56.40 minutes, 0.45 seconds ahead of Mancao
UAAP Season 85 High School Boys’ MVP Kent Francis Jardin spoiled the 1-2 ambitions of UP in the 100 meters, taking the silver instead for Adamson with 10.70 seconds. UP’s Clint Niño Neri was relegated to the bronze this time by a mere 0.06 seconds behind Jardin.
Hockett Delos Santos, 31st Southeast Asian Games silver medalist, introduced himself to the UAAP with a rousing gold in the pole vault for University of Santo Tomas with a best jump of 5.00 meters — the second-highest behind the league record of 5.46 from the world’s current No. 2 athlete in the event, EJ Obiena, when he was still with UST.
The reign of De La Salle University’s Francis Obiena in the said event was cut short, but the senior Green Trackster still finished with the silver at 4.15 meters ahead of University of the East’s Romer Magcalayo, who got bronze at 3.95 meters.
UE’s Mariel Abuan won the high jump over UST’s Jeanne Arnibal, 1.66 against 1.60 meters.
