Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Trackster Allen Mationg snapped the Rookie of the Year (ROY) title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 men’s athletics tournament last December 4 at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

“Sa totoo lang po, ‘di ko akalain ‘yun. Nagulat talaga ako, bigla na lang pumatak ‘yung luha ko kasi, rookie parang nakaka-proud na para sa’kin ‘yun. Although super saya ko na sa gold pero parang na-triple pa ‘yung may dumagdag na ganoon (Honestly, I didn't expect that. I was really surprised, suddenly my tears started to fall because, as a rookie, that makes me proud. Although I'm already super happy with the gold, but it seems like the feeling tripled when something was added like that),” he said in an interview with FEU Advocate.

The season’s decathlon champion successfully finished the event with 5,797 points in the relay and pulled a silver medal from the 4x100m relay with 43.42 seconds.

Mationg also pondered the pressure as the ROY of the sporting event as he promised to make it his motivation for the upcoming tournaments.

“Yung rookie of the year kasi ine-expect ng madami na aangat ulit ako next season. So, ang kailangan kong gawin ay mag-sipag talaga kasi ‘yun din naman gusto ko mangyari (The rookie of the year title made a lot of people expect me to rise again next season. So what I need to do is to work really hard since that's what I also want to happen),” he stated. 

The green-and-gold sprinter added that he plans to put in more effort along with the rising expectations set upon him after bagging the top rookie of the season award.

“Train hard tapos discipline pa rin, more improvement sa techniques para mas ma-improve din performance. Doble kayod kasi gusto naming ibalik ang champion sa Morayta. (Train hard and maintain discipline, more improvement in techniques for better performance. A double effort is needed because we want to return the championship in Morayta),” Mationg stated.

FEU men’s athletics team landed on a bronze podium after tallying 224 points from three gold medals, four silver medals, and four bronze medals at the end of their Season 85 stint.

- Paula Jasmine P. Bronoza

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)