Diones stars in JRU's 4th straight title romp

MANILA, Philippines -- Mark Harry Diones won his fourth gold medal in the 4x400-meter relay team as Jose Rizal University ran away with a fifth straight title in the 90th NCAA track and field competition at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City over the weekend.

Diones led his team of Aldrin Rey, Ramil Toledo and Paernel Lobos to his fourth gold after also coming through with golden performances in long jump, 400 meters and triple jump in the first two days of this three-day meet hosted by a committee chaired by Mapua's Melchor Divina.

After his victory, the 22-year-old Diones thanked everyone from his parents, Maximo, Sr. and Luzviminda, to Jose Rizal athletic director and NCAA Management Committee chair Paul Supan and coaches, Jojo and Elma Muros-Posadas.

"Without them, I wouldn't have done this," said Diones, a graduating Criminology student, in Filipino.

It was another dominating effort for Jose Rizal as it won its fifth athletics title in row by a mile after amassing 892.50 points, outclassing a field headed by Perpetual Altas (482.85) and Arellano University (401.33).

"This is the product of the team's hardwork as well as the school's full support to the program," said Posadas.

"Mission accomplished," Supan, for his part, said.

In the juniors' division, Emilio Aguinaldo College claimed its third straight championship after garnering a league best 1,020.25 points.