By Marcus Isaac D.G. Bandong

Representing the Philippines, Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Trackster Susan Ramadan makes her debut on the international stage as she placed sixth out of 15 athletes in the Women’s 1,500-meter race in the 2025 Taiwan Athletics Open held last June 7 to 8 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The green-and-gold athlete finished with a 4:40.19 mark, beating her personal best of 4:40.80 during the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Philippine Athletics Championship last May 2. 

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, Ramadan was honored and proud to represent the Philippines at the international level.

“Wearing the national colors and knowing that you’re carrying the hopes of your country is both humbling and empowering. It fuels me to give my best every time I step on the track. I’m proud to compete not just for myself, but for all the Filipinos who continue to support and believe in us,” the Lady Trackster said.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 collegiate Athlete Scholar of the Year emphasized her strict regimen while preparing for the competition.

“Coming into the Taiwan Open, I made sure to stay focused on both physical and mental preparation. I followed a strict training regimen that focused on endurance, speed, and race strategies. I also worked closely with my coaches to analyze my past races and identify areas for improvement,” she stated.

Despite the sixth-place finish, the Morayta-based athlete is still proud of her effort and used the tourney as fuel for her upcoming races.

“Placing sixth among 15 strong international athletes was a meaningful moment for me. Of course, I always aim to finish on the podium, but this result showed me how much I’ve grown and where I still need to improve. I was proud of my effort, especially knowing the level of competition, and it motivated me to work even harder for future races,” the FEU athlete shared.

The top three finishers were Pooja of India with a 4:11.63 time, Jon Su Gyong of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with 4:28.03, and Hiu Tung Tsang of Hong Kong with 4:34.92.

Meanwhile, fellow trackster Tochukwu Okolo also represented FEU in the tourney, finishing seventh with a 0:14.79 mark and third with a 0:53.03 finish in the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles, respectively. 

Both Ramadan and Okolo were coached by Isidro del Prado, George Posadas, Karl Francisco, and Djundi Binas.

With more tournaments ahead, Ramadan is committed to representing FEU with pride in the 2025 Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Weekly Relays in July, with the exact date and venue to be announced.

The Taiwan Athletics Open is an international track and field competition that is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour.

(Photo courtesy of Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Facebook page)