Calling on any T&F member, when will the UAAP Track and Field Competition be for this schoolyear? By the way, what are our chances this year? Thanks!

The core of the UAAP men's and women's track teams had just competed in the 12th Unigames (Oct 24-25, 2007). The results have been very promising since the men's team was just 1 gold medal away placing 2nd in the general standings. I'll post the complete results as soon possible.

An even bigger meet, the Philippine Olympic Festival-National Open, is scheduled on the 19th of November (Rizal Memorial Sports Complex).

I'm not quite sure about the exact date of UAAP 70, but knowing the habits of the meet organizers, it's highly possible that last year's schedule will be followed still: February 14-17, 2008.

The women's team is rookie-laden but full of promise. Nevertheless, the throwers and the sprinters are gold medal contenders in their respective events.

This year's men's team is very confident in the light of the achievements of last season (an unprecedented 2nd-runner up finish). The team's strongest disciplines are the throws, the relays, the sprints, the triple jump, the pole vault and the sprint hurdles, events wherein Ateneo athletes have competed with distinction in the years past. Also, expect some pleasant surprises in the lesser known, unmentioned events!

Good news indeed! Let's hope that the Track & Field teams can improve on their finishes from past years. BTW, does any one here know what our best finishes of our T&F teams (Mens, Womens, Juniors) are? (Just interested to know )

Ateneo High School:
Perennial champions during the NCAA and UAAP years. It had a 21-year (?) winning streak under Coach Ed Sediego before Adamson snared top honors back in 1999. The Xave Medina-led HS track team recaptured the Championship trophy the very next year. The last AHS championship came in UAAP 65. The high school boys have played second fiddle to the UST tracksters ever since.

Women's Division:
Hmmmm.... My info is a little sketchy. Based on what I've heard from my coach, we've had consistent medallists back in the 80's, when the UAAP women's division was just starting out. I don't have actual figures and facts though. Our women's team is relatively weak from an overall perspective since most of the girls are first-timers. However, there have been notable exceptions such as pole vaulters Mika Santos (SEA Games veteran, UAAP/Unigames/National Open medallist) and Steph Javellana (UAAP/Unigames medallist) , throwers Frankie Patajo (UAAP Gold Medallist) and Poy Yap(UAAP Bronze medallist), and long jumper/sprint hurdler Nina Buenaflor (Unigames/UAAP medallist). Watch out for the fleet-footed Maita Mendoza. Still a sophomore, Maita is highly touted to compete within the top3 of the sprinting events this UAAP.

Men's Division:
We've had several NCAA championships during the golden days of the Jorge Ledesma-led Blue Cindermen. However, we haven't won any Championship trophies ever since the Ateneo transferred to the UAAP. The benchmark performance is last season's first-ever podium finish, under the tutelage of coaches Mick Perez, Fidel Gallenero, Benber Yu and Aris Manalo.

Thanks for the info 49. Great to know the T&F team is doing well. Hope they get the top honors this year!

Sayang, I think Nov 19 is a Monday right? If it was a weekend, it would have been great to see them in action again. Well good luck to our athletes! One Big Fight!

There's also a smaller meet on Nov.10.. PATAFA finals. Tune-up meet for the Nationals. Full force kami dun. 7am, Rizal Memorial.

Blue Fossil, were you part of the track team as well?

Yup, a long time ago...HS '96, College '00...well it's not really that long...feels that way though with all the weight gained. I traded my running shoes for a Judo gi now:-) Anyways, so will the PATAFA meet be at Rizal? Sige will check if I can drop by to watch the team. Maybe I can get inspired and put on my running shoes again. hehe!