By Aimerose C. Atienza

Far Eastern University (FEU) men’s and women’s athletics teams finished the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 athletics championships with a total of 16 medals held at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City from November 30 to December 4. 

The men’s athletics team clinched the bronze medal in the overall rankings with a total of 224 points from three gold medals, four silver medals, and four bronze finishes in the tourney.

Meanwhile, the green-and-gold lady tracksters landed in sixth place with 135 from one silver medal and four bronze medals. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, FEU men’s Head Coach Dario De Rosas pointed out the injuries some of the senior players suffered, making it harder for the team to finish strong in the league.

“Mayroon tayong mga promising athlete[s] na mga baguhan kaya lang na-short kami gawa ng mga injury. ‘Yung magagaling nating players, may injury sila eh… Ang problema, na-injury sila before the tournament kaya nahirapan kami (We have a lot of new promising athletes but we were cut short because of injuries. Our key players, they have an injury… The problem is that they were injured before the tournament that’s why it was difficult for us),” he said.

Coach De Rosas also mentioned that the team still eyed to gain the top podium finish in the collegiate athletics championships.

“Naka-podium finish naman tayo, third place, pero syempre, gusto natin mag-Champion (We still had a podium finish, third place, but of course, we wanted to be Champions),” he added.

The men’s overall championship title was claimed by the defending champions University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, while the University of Santo Tomas Lady Tracksters regained the women’s gold crown. 

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)