UE's Narido romps to four junior marks

MANILA, Philippines - A University of the East youngster came through with four record-breaking performances while Far Eastern University remained as men’s and women’s champions in UAAP Season 74 athletics competitions.

Daveson Kyle Narido shattered league juniors records in the 1,500m, 5,000m, 3,000m and 2,000m steeplechase and also won gold in the 800m to emerge as the runaway MVP in the four-day competitions that ended Sunday at the PhilSports in Pasig City. He also clinched silver in the 4x400m relay.

Narido’s time of four minutes, 34.49 seconds in the 1,500 meters shattered the old record of 4:36.53 which Rolando Albert Jerhiel Jr. of University of Santo Tomas set in 2006. UST’s Duncan Amarante (4:39.21) clinched silver and UE’s Blaise Miguel (4:43.22) bagged bronze.

The Junior Warrior then clocked 17:51.94 in the 5,000m, breaking also Jerhiel’s 2006 mark of 18:11.14, and winning with plenty to spare over teammate Chester Miguel Corpuz (18:59.26) and Amarante (19:15.62).

In the 2000m steeplechase, Narido’s 7:08.77 again erased Jerhiel’s 7:10.38 (2005) and shoved Domingo (7:23.93) to the silver and again Amarante (7:30.73) to the bronze.

Narida also dominated 3,000m, registering 10:02.39, which broke UST’s Benjamin Cayabyab’s 2008 record of 10:18.55. Paul Renzo Domingo of UP was second in 10:24.69 and Amarante third in 10:29.30.

The 800m gold medal was also picking for Narida with his 2:09.74 clocking. UE actually finished 1-2-3 in the event, with Miguel bagging silver in 2:13.07 nd John Robertson Madayag settling for the bronze in 2:15.11.

But while Narida dominated the juniors action, FEU stamped its class in the seniors, winning the men’s crown anew for its 20th big trophy overall with 188 points, with UST finishing second (160), followed by De La Salle (144), UE (142), Ateneo (111), UP (96) and Adamson (4).

It was basically the same in the women’s action where FEU dominated for the eighth straight season with 293 points. UST was a far second with 233, followed by UE (171), UP (68), De La Salle (51), Ateneo (25) and Adamson (5). Overall, it was also FEU’s 20th women’s title.

FEU’s Dalyn Carmen overwhelmed the women’s field with four gold medals – a record shattering 11:50.62 in the 3,000m steeplechase and first-place numbers of 19:03.55 in the 5,000m, 4:51.23 in the 1,500m and 40:54.78 in the 10,000m. She also clinched silver with the 4x400m relay.

UP ran away with the juniors’ overall championship with 239 points, with Ateneo finishing second with 182, followed by UST with 170, UE with 142, Adamson with 51 and La Salle-Zobel with 51.

De La Salle’s Ma. Patrick Unso was king in the men’s side, winning the 110m hurdles in record time of 14.78 seconds and sweeping the sprints – 100m in 11:07 and 200m in 22.12. He was also part of the Green Archers’ silver-medal clinching 4x100m relay team with 42.92.

UST’s Luville Dato-on won the women’s 100m with 12.35, with FEU’s Hanelyn Loquinto bagging silver in 12.41 and UE’s Jeny Rose Rosales wresting bronze in 12.50. Rosales topped the 200m in 25.36 – Loquinto (25.79) silver and Dato-on (25.95) bronze.

In volleyball, third seed UST and fourth-ranked FEU collide in the first stepladder semifinals match of the women’s volleyball tournament today at 2 p.m. at the San Juan Arena.

The winner will take on Ateneo in the second stepladder match on Saturday, with the Lady Eagles having the luxury of a twice-to-beat advantage.    

Reigning champion De La Salle is already in the championship round where it has a thrice-to-beat edge after sweeping the 14-game eliminations.

Meanwhile, top seed FEU and No. 4 De La Salle collide at the start of the men’s Final Four at 10 a.m., with the Tamaraws also enjoying a twice-to-beat edge.    

Tickets to the men’s and women’s semifinals matches will be sold separately.