Wagdos’ triumphant return to UM at Kadayawan DC Athletics Open

SONNY Wagdos, a silver medalist at the Cambodia Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, made a triumphant return to his alma mater, the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina, on Saturday, August 26. Once an athletics varsity scholar there, he offered emerging track and field athletes a rare opportunity to race against him, an experience they will likely cherish forever.

Wagdos, representing the Philippine Air Force (PAF), topped his favorite men's 5,000-meter open event after clocking 15 minutes and 14:06. He outpaced Dhem AJ Monton of the Spectrum Runners Mindanao, and Cronie Melliza for the gold medal. Monton (15:14:24) and Melliza (15:43:57) claimed the silver and bronze in the Kadayawan Davao City Athletics Open.

"Nibisita lang ko diri, hatag suporta sa mga runners nato diri (I just came to visit and also give support to our runners here)," said Wagdos, reminiscing about his years representing UM and Davao City in numerous competitions.

The decorated runner, who also copped bronze in the men's 1,500m, also led the oath of sportsmanship of the two-day trackfest that attracted nearly 500 entries from Luzon and other parts of Mindanao, marking the largest turnout in an athletics competition since in-person meets resumed after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spectrum Runners Mindanao's Mark Mahinay clinched the men's 1,500m gold while teammate Monton salvaged the bronze.

Panabo City's Dareen Glenn Capulac, meanwhile, annexed the men's 110m hurdles with 16.09 seconds over Vincent Jay Capulac of General Santos (16:28) and Panabo City's Justin Brix Gubal (17:22).

UM Davao's Bernadette Mendiola and UM Tagum's Hazel Arellano figured in a one-two finish in the women's long jump. Mendiola leaped to a distance of 5.39 meters to pocket the gold as Arellano registered 5.10m to take the silver. UM, Davao's Shairadhell Matillosa (4.85m) settled for bronze.

The boys 14-16 100m, Jecris Reponte of DNRSA (11.95) bested Brokenshire College's Kim Aikee Mapa (11.97) and Joseph Stephan Bayya of Tacurong City (12.09) for the gold.

In the women's 4X400m relay, UM Davao's Andrea de Guia, Reponte, Johny Gil Meder, and Adrean Cabacang timed 3:51:25 to secure the gold at the expense of Spectrum Runners Mindanao and Hagonoy Davsur Aces quartets. 

Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera and Dr. Guillermo P. Torres Jr., Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) executive vice president and regional director, graced the opening rites.

The Davao City Track and Field Association (DCTFA) under Kenneth Sai was the organizer of the trackfest. MLSA