Diay’s 32-year-old 400m record falls

MANILA, Philippines - University of the East’s Jenyrose Rosales shattered track legend Lydia De Vega’s 32-year-old national record of 54.75 seconds in 400 meters as she turned in a 54.65-second clocking in one of the heats in UAAP Season 76 athletics competitions at La Salle-Dasmariñas Track and Field Stadium over the weekend.

Coached by Elma Muros Posadas, also a former track star, and her husband Jojo Posadas, the 5-1 Rosales highlighted a weekend of competitions that saw Far Eastern U extending its overall reign in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

However, Lydia’s personal best of 54.2 established in Manila on Dec 1. 1984, remained listed as her best mark for the event although it was hand-timed.

Rosales, a 19-year-old Physical Education junior from Talisay, Batangas, who is also on her third year of eligibility, completed her amazing run and led a 1-2-3 podium finish by UE tracksters in the finals.

De Vega, the former Asian Games track queen, set the previous mark during the 1981 Manila Southeast Asian Games at the historic Rizal Memorial Oval.

Rosales, however, timed 56.03 in bagging the gold in the afternoon finals, shoving teammates Neslee Angco (57.62) and Carmela Leonardo (58.14) to second and third place, respectively.

Rosales’ record, however, would need ratification by the Philippine Track and Field Association to be included in the record books.

The Lady Tamaraws, meanwhile, won their 10th straight women’s overall crown after garnering 451 points in the four-day meet, with middle distance specialist Jennysyml Mabunga hoisting the Most Valuable Player after winning four golds and one silver medal.

University of Santo Tomas placed second with 394 points behind the efforts of Rookie of the Year Eloisa Luzon, followed by UE, which collected 233 points.       

The Tamaraws ruled for the fourth straight year in the men’s side, registering 378.5 points and upending the Growling Tigers, who had 319.5 markers. University of the Philippines placed third with 211 points.
FEU now has 23 championships in the women’s and men’s division.