UST tracksters shine on track and in class

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from their second straight UAAP title conquest, University of Santo Tomas tracksters are aiming for berths in the national team in next year’s Southeast Asian Games. 

“We are preparing our top athletes to qualify for the national team,” said head coach Manny Calipes in a phone interview with Rappler on Monday. He said in next week’s Philippine National Games Karen Janairo, whose 3 golds helped UST keep the women’s crown last February 21, will be seeing action. 

More than setting sights for greater athletic glory, Calipes is proud that his recruits, mostly from Mindanao, have adjusted to UST’s academic rigor and are doing very well.

“There are 4 dean’s listers among the athletes. It makes me happy because people usually think athletes struggle academically, but the athletes, especially those from Mindanao, have surpassed my expectations,” said Calipes.

Calipes said Eloisa Luzon, who was tipped to win the 100 and 200 until she pulled her hamstring last November, is one of those dean’s listers. Another one is Rosnani Pamaybay, winner of the triple jump. The other two are Michele Loterte and Jay Nieles.

Janairo won the 100 and 200 meters, ably filling in for Luzon. But in her best event, the 100 meter hurdles, Janairo is expected to make some waves. 

Janairo, who holds the national juniors record of 14.52, won in 14.76 seconds. “We want  her to be in position to qualify for the national team but she is only 16 years old,’ said Calipes of the UAAP Rookie of the Year winner. 

Elbren Neri wiped away the remaining record of former national champ Nelbert Ducusin of FEU by winning the 1,500m in 3:57.22. Ducusin’s old mark was 3.57.50 done in December 17, 2006. Neri, who also holds the top 800m mark of 1;52.85, won this event in 1:54.09. 

“We are also preparing him to make the 2017 Southeast Asian Games team,” said Calipes of Neri, who finished second to the SEA Games middle distance king Duong van Thai in the 2014 Asean University Games. “He has some experience and he knows what it takes.”

Luzon, who clocked 12.1 last year, will be in good shape for the National Open track and field championship next month. “We didn’t push her too much after she pulled her hamstring last November during the weekly relays,” said Calipes. 

In the men’s division, ruled by FEU, UST’s second place was spiced by the national record leap by Ernest John Obiena in the pole vault. Obiena cleared 5.46 meters, one centimeter more than his national mark. 

His father and coach, Edward, admitted in a private message in Facebook that EJ “moved the bar immediately to 5.60m. He had almost cleared it in his second attempt with a lot to spare but barely hit the bar on his way down.” 

“He needs more competitions to sharpen his skills and improve his chances of qualifying” for the Rio Olympics by vaulting 5.70m, but the father said his engineering studies are his top priority. – Rappler.com