MANILA – The University of Santo Tomas women’s track and field team successfully retained the overall championship in the UAAP Season 81 athletics.
Negrense Louielyn Pamatian capped off her collegiate career by bagging her third consecutive Most Valuable Player award after capturing four gold and two silver medals in the five-day event.
Pamatian teamed up with fellow Negrense Jessa Mae Jarder, Rosnani Pamaybay and Jie Ann Calis in ruling the 4x400m relay while she finished with silver in the 1500m run, losing to teammate Calis, Sunday at the Philsports Oval in Pasig City.
“I have mixed emotions,” said Pamatian, a native of Bago City, Negros Occidental. “Of course, masaya because I was able to help the school maintain the overall title, but sad din because this is my last with UST and UAAP.”
New Washington, Aklan native Alyssa Andrade, meanwhile, added another gold for UST by ruling long jump while Ilongga rookies Elvy Villagoniza and Pamela Marquillero fell short in their events.
UST women tracksters captured their fifth straight title with 338 points, defeating Far Eastern University by only 11 points in the hotly contested duel that was decided only on the last day.
Meanwhile the University of the Philippines men’s track and field team ended its 36 years of wait for a title after ruling the Season 81 athletics competition.
Trailing by 39 points entering midway in the tournament, UP banked on a 1-2-3 finish in the 400m hurdles, a podium sweep in the 800m run, and gold medals in the 4x100m relay and discus throw, to seize the upper hand Saturday – and never looked back.
With 426 points, the Fighting Maroons ended FEU’s eight-year reign. The Morayta-based squad had 262 points and landed on second place while University of the East finished third with 185 points./PN
