42.08 Seconds to Glory
by rick olivares
Six runners limbered up shaking their arms and hands. No one said a word but there was a buzz building from the Sunday morning crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum Track and Field Stadium.
A few runners stretched a bit more. One raised his arms to loosen up. A minute later the barker called for everyone to get into their starting positions.
But before the opening gun, the University of the East starter prematurely got out of the blocks and a false start was declared. Bryan Sutingco yelled out in anger to the Recto-based sprinter. He – just like everyone else – knew that UE had done it deliberately to unnerve and distract their opponents but more so for Ateneo since the Blue Tracksters were favorites to win their first ever gold in the UAAP 4x100 meter relay. Aside from the gold, the Ateneans were breathing down their necks for third place.
In the previous season, after three days of intense competition, Ateneo was second in the standings. But UST overtook the blue and white on the final day with golden performances in the high jump, triple jump, and 1,500 meter dash.
This year, the Ateneans were at fourth place after Day 3 with UE occupying third spot behind FEU and UST, the traditional track powers. And Day 4 of Season 71’s track meet had the air of great expectations as there were 10 more gold medals up for grabs and they could spell the difference as teams were jostling for prime position.
Sutingco, Charles Bañez, and Carlos “Soy” Soriano did some full sprints at the warm up track outside the main oval. The quartet’s anchorman, Mike Mendoza in the meantime was busy competing in the hurdles. The three had to make do and keep themselves motivated.
Leading up to the UAAP track tourney, Sutingco’s Yahoo Messenger status read, “Make this season legendary.” And they recited it like a mantra. They were not only doing this for themselves but also for the school.
The last time Ateneo won a track and field championship more so a 4x100 meter relay race was way back during the glory days on the NCAA. At an odd 41 years ago.
The false start by UE only made them all the more determined to overtake UE and win the gold.
UST was in Lane 2 followed respectively by UE, Ateneo, La Salle, UP, and FEU.
For the first time in years, FEU didn’t have a lock for the gold in this event. Everyone was evenly matched and they were in for a dogfight.
Prior to the start of the event, Bryan Sutingco, in his fourth and possibly final year of UAAP competition was joking around with FEU’s Romnick Herrida. “Pare, graduation gift mo na sa akin ‘to,” kidded the Atenean.
“Oo ba,” slyly smiled the King Tamaraw who was friendly with the Ateneo team. “Pero pahihirapan kita.”
Sutingco knew that it wouldn’t be easy but he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. In spite of the ascent of Ateneo in track and field, the Morayta team always viewed their Loyola Heights counterparts as nothing more than a runner-up to their golden aspirations. "This would be a good win," said Sutingco to himself.
At the crack of the gun, Charles Bañez, the starter for the blue and white quickly got off the blocks.
Bañez’ position is key for not only does the starter have to ideally be the first or second fastest runner but he should be able to run the curve well and exchange the baton. Coming out of Lane 4, the junior was rapidly eating up the tartan for the hand-off.
With Bañez coming up fast, Sutingco had one last thought: “This is my last chance to shine.”
As soon as the starter hit the mark indicating it was time for the second runner to get going, everything seemed to be ironically in slow motion for every one.
Sutingco took the baton, had a split second to glance at Herrida who was neck-to-neck alongside him, and run for dear life to Soriano who was waiting for the second exchange.
Soriano, a freshman, had previously gone up against the FEU sprinters and he knew that they only had the benefit of years on him. “I can do this,” he willed himself. “I can beat him.”
“Soy,” hissed Ateneo’s second runner. “Ilabas mo na kamay mo. Nandito na ako.”
As Soriano took the baton from Sutingco, he saw FEU’s third runner Charlie Ducusin slightly ahead of him. “Parang ang bagal niya,” thought a surprised Soriano as he was rapidly overtaking and outsprinting his rival. Now all he had to do was hand it off to Mendoza.
Which was easier said than done. Prior to the event or even all season long, the trio practiced mostly without Mike who was concentrating on his other events.
“But we had absolute faith and trust in one another,” confirmed Mendoza.
When he saw Soriano approach the passing zone, Mendoza began his run and reached back. But to his surprise, his teammate’s hand missed as he felt the baton graze his arm.
Not wanting to slow down, Mendoza blindly grabbed hold of the baton and took off like a bat out of hell.
As he could see the finish line loom larger in the distance, the Ateneo anchorman craned his ears to see if he could pick up the footsteps of anyone breathing down his neck.
But there were none. Instead, he saw some of his teammates from the other events at the finish line exhorting him to go faster.
“Wala na ‘to. Sure na ‘to,” he thought to himself as he raised the baton above his head. A second later, he crossed the finish line some ten meters ahead of the closest pursuer. Throughout his hundred-meter sprint, all he could hear was his heartbeat that was beating like a drum solo, but as he crossed the finish line, all he could hear now was the roar of the crowd.
Mendoza had just anchored the fastest Ateneo team ever as they finished at 42.08. Had the final hand off been smoother, they would have broken the UAAP record of 41.94.
But no matter. They had the gold; Ateneo’s first ever in the UAAP and its first since 1968 when the school was still in the NCAA.
As Bryan Sutingco jogged on after his exchange with Soriano, he had to clear the jumper’s area that was located just below the final curve to see the race’s outcome. He then saw Mendoza, his longtime teammate blazing a trail to the glory he once only dreamed of.
He smiled and the incoming med student said to himself, “Not bad for my final race.”
As the victorious relay team gathered at the finish line, they saw their coach Mick Perez with the widest grin. “Yun ang hinihintay ko,” exclaimed the longtime Ateneo track mentor.
The five of them exchanged hugs and backslaps to the happiest smiles and cries.
It was a glorious run.
End Note:
The gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay along with other first place finishes in the pole vault and discus throw helped Ateneo overtake UE for third place in the medal standings.
The 4x100 meter relay team: Charles Bañez, Bryan Sutingco, Carlos Soriano, and Mike Mendoza.
Author's note: Last Sunday, I went to the track and field events. I missed the first three days because of the PFF stories i have been following up. Then I went to watch the baseball game between ADMU and DLSU in which we won and my nephew got the game winning RBI. Then it was off to women's volleyball and lastly, the PBA. Whew! I missed my first football game in literally ages. But I am glad I saw history unfold at Day 4 of the track competitions.
Thanks, team. Am proud of you all. And Coach Mick, great job! OBF!
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