By Peter Albert Soriano

After battling their hearts out last University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 78 in different Track and Field events, Marylyn Avila, Evalyn Palabrica and, Joida Gagnao of Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tracksters sack a gold, a silver and, a bronze representing the Philippines in Athletics Event of 2016 Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) University Games (AUG) last July 12 to 17, at Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore.

Avila reigned supreme in the women’s 400 meter Hurdles, quickly finishing it in 1 minute and 2.22 seconds overwhelming Khonkham Jutamas of Thailand with 1:02.44, copping silver, and SaidatulIzatti Suhaimi of Malaysia with 1:02.61 going home with bronze.

Last February, Avila conquered the same event in UAAP Season 78 beating Michelle Loterte of University of Sto. Tomas (UST) and Judy Rendora of De La Salle University (DLSU).

“Masaya ako kasi hindi ko expected na matatalo ko sila at masarap sa pakiramdam na nai-apply ko ‘yung paghihirap ko sa training (I am happy because I did not expect that I will beat them and it feels good that I applied all my sufferings in training),” Avila quoted.

“Training pa lang may nararamdaman na ako pero sinasabi ko lagi na kung konting sakit pa lang eh susuko na ko, ‘di ko maaabot ‘yung goal ko (During the training, I was not feeling well but I kept on saying that if a small pain makes me give up, I will not reach my goal),” Avila commented about her body condition before the game.

Palabrica cops a silver medal in the women’s Javelin Throw event covering a distance of 44.4 meters, falling short on the 49.03 meter distance made by Vietnam’s Thi Xuan Bui. Sarah Dequinan, another representative from the Philippines, fell at third place creating a 40.79 meter distance.

“Hindi ko nga expected na magsi-silver ako kasi meron pang mas malakas kaysa sa akin pero I did my best para makuha ko ang silver medal at sobrang saya ko kasi naging representative ako ng Pilipinas sa ASEAN University Games (I did not expect that I will get the silver medal because there are those who are much stronger than me but I did my best to get the silver medal and I am very happy that I became a representative of Philippines in ASEAN University Games),” Palabrica’s thoughts after the game.

Gagnao finished at third spot recording 12:02 seconds in the women’s 3000 meter steeplechase after being downed by 10:21 of Vietnam’s Thi Oanh Nguyen and 11:27 of Indonesia's Afriana Paijo, the gold and silver medalists.