The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) track and field event returned Saturday in Season 99, with host Jose Rizal University and Perpetual Help emerging champions at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Heavy Bombers were crowned grand slam champions in the Senior’s Division by recording 826.5 points, while Mapua Tech came in second with 584 points and Arellano University was 2nd runner up with 540 points.
Southeast Asian Games relay gold winner Frederick Ramirez delivered a pair of record-breaking feats to power Jose Rizal University to the three-peat and 10th title oveall.
Ramirez broke the 400m and 200m records in two of the three gold medals he snared in the three-day meet organized by a committee chaired by Herc Callanta of Lyceum of the Philippines.
Ramirez clocked 46.95 seconds in the 400m to erase the 48.03 mark he set last year and then timed in 21.43 in the 200m to eclipse the 21.93 standard Russel Galleon of JRU registered six years ago.
Interestingly, the record-breakers by Ramirez, who also had a 4x400m relay gold and an 800m bronze, were just among the six marks the fell this season with the other four being Arellano U’s Eugene Bongalos in pole vault, and Mapua’s Leonard Grospe in high jump in seniors and JRU’s Randy Degolacion in 800m and Perpetual Help’s John Kervy Dianito in javelin in the juniors’ side.
Meanwhile, the Junior Altas collected a total of 804.5 points in 18 events to claim their second title with a 153-point margin over 1st runner-up Jose Rizal University with 657.25 points. Second runner-up was Arellano University 503 points in the junior division.
The Dr./BGen Antonio Tamayo-owned educational institution reigned supreme as it collected 13 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronze medals plus personal bests and record-breaking performances in the return of track and field events in the oldest league in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is what we call true developmental program ng mga bata from elementary, starting in the intramural-cluster meets going to the division meet, then regional and Palarong Pambansa. After that, Grade 7 and 8 Batang Pinoy,” coach Trece Academia said.
