By The Star Staff
The Tigresses and Tigresses of Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR by its Spanish initials) both successfully defended their titles at the 95th Inter-University Athletic League (LAI) Justas Track & Field Competitions, which concluded Saturday at José Figueroa Freyre Stadium in Mayagüez.
“Firstly, thank God. Thank you for the blessing he has given us,” UIPR President Dr. Rafael Ramírez said in a written statement. “Our students have been excellent. This day is the university students’ day. We are blessed for this gift that God has given us [victory in both divisions].”
UIPR’s final score was 247 points for the men and 253.50 points for the women. With the victory, the champions’ university campuses have a day off from studies.
For UIPR head coach Ramón Nieves, the repeat brought joy and happiness.
“We are very happy with the work team. My fellow coaches have done a spectacular job,” the Barranquitas native said. “Again the athletes, my respect to them because they grew. The statistics did not give us a chance to win and the truth is that they have grown up with the heart of a tiger and a tigress.”
The overall runner-up was Ana G. Méndez University (UAGM) with 218.50 points for the men and 201.50 points for the women. Third place overall went to the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Mayagüez Campus with 110.50 points in the women’s division.
UIPR’s Pagán & Oliver earn MVP honors
The most valuable athletes, both from UIPR, were Héctor Pagán and Nyah Oliver. Pagán, of Barranquitas, won the men’s 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and 1,500 meters.
Oliver, meanwhile, won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, took a silver medal in the 1,500 meters, and earned bronze in the 10,000 meters.
2024 records
UAGM student-athletes set meet records in a pair of events.
Sebastián Quiñones of Ponce clocked 46 minutes, 45.48 seconds in the 10,000-meter walk to break his own record of 50:01.19 from 2023.
Meanwhile, the team of Jarell Cruz, Livette Lozada, Luis Reyes and Génesis Castro established their place in the LAI record books with a time of 3 minutes, 28.96 seconds in the mixed 4x400 relay, an event making its Justas debut.
Full results are available at www.tiempodellegada.com.