TRACK & FIELD ROLLS ON BEFORE SPRING BREAK

By Shania Bulala

The ISA track and field season continued to build momentum as athletes returned to the JFK track for Week 3 of competition on Saturday afternoon. With the All-Island Championships fast approaching on May 17, every event now carries weight in qualifying. From the track to the field, the level of competition is at an all-time high as athletes push themselves to secure top finishes and make their mark.

The meets will take off for the spring break and resume the following weekend.

Islanders Stay in Contention

The Islanders remain a strong force in this year’s meet series, staying close to the top with key performances on both the boys and girls sides.

In the short sprints, Alex Na continued his dominant streak, taking first in the 100 meters (11.47) and securing second in the 400 meters (52.90).

On the field, Islander boys showed strength in the triple jump with a 1-2 finish—Junior Darwin Ecijain leaped to an impressive 11.81 meters, setting both a personal and meet record, while teammate Kyle Pamintuan followed closely with a strong 11.63-meter jump and setting his own season record.

In the throws, senior Junico Fontanilla claimed first place in the shot put with a throw of 11.07 meters.

On the girls side, Ava Garcia made waves with a 2nd place in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing just one millisecond behind Geckos’ Hazel Wilson with a time of 52.46. Teammate Nicaveah Guanzon followed with a solid third-place finish (53.14).

Garcia also dominated the long jump, claiming first place with a distance of 4.47 meters, setting a new PR.

In distance events, Patricia Miclat and Elizabeth Higley delivered a 1-2 finish in the 3000 meters with times of 12:25 and 12:34, respectively, keeping the Islanders in striking distance of team podiums.

Lady Geckos Shine

The defending champion Lady Geckos once again showcased their depth and dominance, racking up top finishes across multiple events. Leading the charge were sophomore Yenia Smartt and junior Hazel Wilson.

Wilson went four-for-four, taking first place in the 100-meter hurdles (18.02), 300-meter hurdles (52.45), 4×100 relay (54.22), and 4×400 relay (4:46).

Smartt wasn’t far behind, finishing first in the 100 meters (13.77 SR), high jump (5’0 PR), and 4×100 relay, and placing second in the 200 meters (28.92).

Gwenizah Barcinas added to the team’s glory with a first-place finish in the 800 meters (2:45 SR). Teammate Juanalynn Cruz made her mark in the javelin with a throw of 25.91 meters—earning both a personal and meet record. 

As a team, the Lady Geckos swept both female relay events. The 4×100 squad featured Aveah Asuncion, Hazel Wilson, Averie Asuncion, and Yenia Smartt. The 4×400 lineup included Riley Treltas, Hazel Wilson, Averie Asuncion, and Bekah Tavarez.

Panther Boys Continue to Dominate

The Panthers boys team extended their streak of impressive performances with standout results in both track and field events.

Senior Jayden Jackson remained untouchable in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking in a new personal best of 17.00 seconds. 

Sophomore Christian Polite added to the tally with a first-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles (42.90). 

Meanwhile, teammate Wesley Augustine took 1st place in the 400 meters (52.26).

In the field, sophomore Kaiden Guerrero threw 37.29 meters in discus, earning a new PR and the event win. Guerrero also placed second in the shot put with another personal best with a throw of 10.63 meters.

Distance runners Caleb Steele and Eldon Egbert pulled off a 1-2 finish in the 3000 meters. Steele crossed the line in 9:55 (PR), followed by Egbert at 10:09 (SR).

The Panthers also swept the boys relay events. Their A 4×100 team (Cian Hannon, Christopher Angoco, Judah Alcantara, and Noah Harris) placed first in 44.98 seconds, while their B team (Philip Lorenzo, Francisco Crisostomo, William Hannon, and Christian Polite) finished second in 47.76. 

In the 4×400, the A team (Wesley Augustine, Caleb Steele, Brandon Nielsen, and Bradyn Rutland) clocked in at 3:44 for first, with the B team (Cian Hannon, Christian Polite, Philip Lorenzo, and Ramon Quichocho) placing third in 3:53.

Standout Performances 
Several individual athletes from across the league delivered breakout performances in Week 3:

Okkodo’s Doniefer Pascua: The sophomore took first in the 200 meters (24.09 PR) and long jump (5.85 meters PR and meet record).
Southern’s Lana Quinata: Quinata dominated both the discus (28.34 meters) and shot put (9.07 meters), winning each event with a wide margin.
Sanchez’s’ Rynier Di Ramos: Di Ramos claimed first in the 1500 meters (4:34 SR) and second in the 3000 meters (2:13).
Tiyan’s Giada Findish: Findish secured first place in the girls triple jump (8.75 meters) and took second in the long jump (3.86 meters).

With just weeks remaining until All-Island, athletes are sharpening their form and making bold statements on the track and in the field. Week 3 proved that the competition is wide open – and only getting faster.