The UP Men’s Athletics Team (UPMAT) reclaimed the Collegiate Athletics Championship (CAC) of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
The UP Fighting Maroons collected a total of 290 points, led by a podium finish of four golds, seven silvers, and five bronzes during the five-day meet held from Nov. 17 to 21. It was a hard-earned crown as the UPMAT only led by four points against first runner-up Far Eastern University.
UP’s four gold medals came from two double gold medalists: Ed Deliña, UAAP CAC Season 81 Rookie of the Year, and Clint Niño Neri.
Deliña began UP’s quest to regain the championship by winning the shot put event on Day 1 of the competition with a throw of 14.86 meters. On the final day, he set the tempo for the championship run by notching gold in the hammer throw event with a throw of 49.41 meters, well ahead of the throw of the runners-up’s throws of 42.81 and 42.08 meters, respectively.
Neri added UP’s second gold when he defended his long jump crown on Day 2 of the meet with a distance of 7.33 meters. His second gold came on the third day of the event when he won the triple jump event with a distance of 14.94 meters.
On the women’s side, the Lady Fighting Maroons ended second runner-up after collecting 195 points led by a podium finish of three golds, four silvers, and four bronzes.
Mea Gey Niñura won two golds: one in the 5,000-m walk with a time of 18:47.33 minutes and another in the 10,000-m walk with a time of 39:52.39 minutes. The women’s third gold was courtesy of Ainah Marie Masangkay, who achieved a throw of 39.58 meters in the discus throw event.
This year’s championship was UPMAT’s 21st title in the UAAP, with the last one from UAAP Season 85.
