De La Salle University closed out a dominant campaign to make amends from last season’s meltdown with a first-ever University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s athletics title at the close of the Season 86 championships on Sunday at the Philsports Track Oval in Pasig City.
The Lady Green Tracksters won the title with 301 points over traditional powerhouses Far Eastern University (268) and University of Santo Tomas (235).
“First ever title, first ever. I am speechless but I’m so happy,” La Salle head coach Joeffrey Chua said.
“I just told them to stay motivated.”
National athlete and eventual women’s Most Valuable Player Bernalyn Bejoy paced the campaign for the La Salle Lady Green Tracksters with four gold medals for the season, including the final day’s highlight event of the 4×400-meter relay.
Bejoy picked up from where Hannah Delotavo finished during the relay, setting up Erica Ruto and Jessel Lumapas for gold medal in three minutes and 50.40 seconds while FEU settled for the silver medal with 3:57.80 and University of the Philippines took the bronze with a clocking of 3:58.78.
“My goal is to really win the MVP and bag the team championship. I just believed in myself and, of course, in our team. I’m happy to get both,” said Bejoy, the 22-year-old senior who hails from Bacolod City.
Bejoy also won gold in league-record-breaking fashion in 400m (55.75 seconds) and 400m hurdles (1:00.49), while also winning the 800m race (2:12.86). She also finished with bronze in the 200m (24.88).
Abcd Agamanos clinched the second gold of the day for La Salle after winning the 100-meter hurdles with 15.08 seconds, 0.02 seconds ahead of University of the East’s Patricia Lobos with 15.10 seconds.
Eventual women’s Rookie of the Year Jeanne Arnibal rounded up the top three with 15.19 seconds.
Arnibal topped the heptathlon (4,195) and triple jump (12.28) events while placing second in the high jump (1.60).
