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FEU's Susan Ramadan celebrates after winning the women's 1,500-m event in the UAAP Season 87 women's athletics championships, November 19, 2024 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac. UAAP MediaMANILA -- An outstanding performance from Susan Ramadan helped Far Eastern University extend its lead in the UAAP Season 87 women's athletics championships, Tuesday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Ramadan set the tone for FEU by clinching the gold in the women's 1,500-meters with a time of 4:41.39.
Nicole Diloy, also from FEU, secured second place with a time of 4:42.66, while National University's Jessa Mae Roda took third with 4:44.19.
"Sobrang unexpected and nakaka-overwhelm po talaga kasi dati hindi ko naman ine-expect na mapabababa ko pa 'yung time ko. Tapos muntik nang ma-break 'yung record, mga isa na lang. Kaya parang gusto ko pang mag bigger next season," said Ramadan.
"Hindi na po namin pakakawalan 'to. Parang lahat naka-eye na sa momentum na kayang-kaya lahat mag-champion. Bigay lang po namin 'yung best namin at hindi po kami dapat makampante kasi hindi namin hawak 'yung panahon," she added.
FEU now has 280.5 points, far ahead of second-placed University of Santo Tomas with 194 points.
The Lady Tamaraws finished the day with another gold in the women's 4x100-meter relay, courtesy of a record-breaking performance from Annie Mercurio, Shane Ponce, Angelyn Ortiz, and Diane Taranza.
The quartet clocked 46.84 seconds, breaking the previous record set by De La Salle University on November 24, 2023.
FEU's new mark surpassed the 47.02 seconds set by Jessel Lumapas, Erica Mae Ruto, Hanna Jandra Delotavo, and Trexie Dela Torre of DLSU.
This season, Lumapas, Ruto, and Delotavo, along with Abcd Agamanos, finished second with a time of 47.45 seconds. UST's Lyka Miravelles, Mailene Pamarisan, Justine Mae Candoy, and Jessa Belinario completed the podium with 48.52 seconds.
READ: UP's Niñura claims second athletics gold
-- First gold for La Salle --
The FEU women in action in the 4x100-m event in the UAAP Season 87 women's athletics championships, November 19, 2024 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac. UAAP MediaUST solidified its hold on second place with 194 points, thanks to Azeneth Serat's record-breaking performance in the 3,000-meter walk. Her new time of 15:27.96 was almost seven minutes faster than the previous record set by UP's Sally Campus, who clocked 15:34.73 on November 24, 2023.
Reigning MVP Bernalyn Bejoy gave De La Salle University its first gold of the championships, winning the 400 meters in 56.01 seconds. UST's Belinario (56.73) and FEU's Kaye Villanueva (57.21) took second and third, respectively.
Meanwhile, Aina Masangkay of University of the Philippines bagged the gold in the javelin throw with a distance of 39.58 meters. UST's Rashied Faith Burdeos and FEU's Rhealyn De Costa took silver and bronze, with throws of 39.10 meters and 36.83 meters, respectively.
UP men leap forward
On the men's side, UP's Clint Niño Neri became a double gold medalist, winning the triple jump with a massive leap of 14.94 meters.
READ: Clint Neri shines as UP overtakes UST in men's athletics
His teammate, Ranier Sobrepeña, finished second with 14.82 meters, while Adamson University's Kent Francis Jardin took third with 14.78 meters.
Two silver medals from different events helped increase the Fighting Maroons' lead to 207 points, ahead of UST's 147.
Arthur Alintog earned silver in the javelin throw with a distance of 55.74 meters, just behind the unexpected gold medalist, FEU's Joemarie Lazaro, who threw 56.20 meters. UST's John Allen Butiong took third with 55.60 meters.
Reigning MVP Alrhyan Labita secured his first medal of the season, a silver in the 400 meters, with a time of 48.68 seconds.
National University's Orly Orongan won the gold with 48.04 seconds, and FEU's Timothy Okolo took the bronze with 48.83 seconds.
UST claimed victory in the men's 4x100-meter relay, with Lorenz Datiles, Hokett Delos Santos, John Celestino Romero, and Jasper Obanon finishing in 41.77 seconds, matching the record set by UP's Leoniel Tigtig, Jomar Udtohan, Jaime Mejia, and John Carlo Yuzon on November 30, 2018.
Meanwhile, University of the East's Vianmar Dela Cruz won the 5,000-meter walk gold with a time of 22:44.16, finishing far ahead of Adamson's Yuri Jumaday (23:55.06) and UP's Peter Lachica (24:17.30).
The fourth day of the championships begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.