Stags' sprinter continues domination

Rolando de Ramos, Jr. of San Sebastian continued his domination of rising star Isidro del Prado, Jr. of St. Benilde as he completed a spring double by topping the 200-meter dash in the 85th NCAA athletics competition at the Rizal Memorial Track and Field Oval.

De Ramos checked in with the fastest time of 22.33 seconds edging Letran’s Archand Christian Bagsit and del Prado, who finished second and third places in 22.42 and 22.43, respectively.

It was the second golden feat for de Ramos, who came from behind to edge del Prado, a talented rookie who is a former Palarong Pambansa golden boy, in the century dash in Monday’s Day 1 of this event organized by Management Committee chair Jose Mari Lacson of San Beda and deputy chair Frank Gusi of San Sebastian.

The win by de Ramos helped the Stags sustain the overall lead in the four-day centerpiece event after accumulating 466 points with still several events to be completed at press time.

Talented freshman Mervin Guarte was the biggest reason of San Sebastian’s upheaval as he harvested three gold medals in 1,500m, 3,000 steeplechase and 800m—all in record-breaking fashion.

Guarte will go for a fourth as he is competing in the 5,000m—his favorite event.

“I’m just happy I’m performing well in my first year in the NCAA,” said the 17-year-old pride of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, who is also a double gold medalist in last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban, Leyte.

The Knights currently trail the Stags with a total score of 402.3 while the Mapua Cardinals, last year’s champions, were running third with 384.8 points.

In juniors’ action, Letran’s Glenn Khobuntin, a star in Letran’s high school basketball team who is a track and field athlete on the side, shone the brightest by snaring three gold medals.

The 18-year-old Khobuntin, who is heavily recruited by college teams both as cager and thrower, reigned supreme in the high jump, discus throw and shot put.

Khobuntin’s effort was a big improvement from his performance last year when he copped a pair of golds in high jump and shot put.

“My target is to really improve on my two gold medals last year,” said the 6’4” athlete. (NCAA Press Release)