MANILA – De La Salle University Lady Green Tracksters claimed the overall championship in the UAAP Season 86 women’s athletics tournament on Sunday at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City.
Negrense trackster Bernalyn Bejoy was named tournament Most Valuable Player after spearheading the Lady Green Tracksters campaign with four gold medals.
Bejoy won her gold in league-record-breaking fashion in the 400-meter (55.75) and 400-meter hurdles (1:00.49), while also winning the 800m race (2:12.86) and 4×400-meter relay.
Bejoy, a former standout of Romanito Maravilla National High School in Negros Occidental, capped her campaign in the tournament with a bronze medal in the 200-meter run (24.88).
“Goal ko po talaga si mag-MVP and makuha ng team ‘yung championship. Nagtiwala lang po ako sa sarili ko at, syempre, sa team. Masaya ako na nakuha ko both,” said Bejoy.
The Lady Green Tracksters won the women’s overall title with 301 points over traditional powerhouses Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws (268) and University of Santo Tomas Female Tracksters (235).
“First-ever title, first-ever. Speechless ako eh, but I’’m so happy,” Lady Green Tracksters head coach Jeoffrey Chua said. “Sabi ko lang sa kanila, ‘Stay motivated.’”
Meanwhile, National University leaned on heroic finishes from Van Alexander Obejas to dethrone two-time defending champion University of the Philippines by a mere 10.5 points in the men’s athletics championship.
The Bulldogs ended up with 312.5 points against the Fighting Maroons’ 302. The Far Eastern University Tamaraws completed the podium with 221 points.
“Sabi ko sa mga bata, ‘Let’s pray for the best and let’s do our best para makuha natin.’ This is our golden opportunity kumbaga, huwag na nating sayangin,” said NU head coach Fernando Dagasdas. “Malaking bagay ito para sa programa namin at sana magtuloy-tuloy ito.”/PN
