The Benilde Blazing Tracksters clinched 2nd runner-up in the NCAA Season 100 Track and Field Tournament on March 16 to 18 at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Tarlac City. In an exclusive interview with The Benildean, Fritz Calisaan, Renchard Pagulayan, and Zolio Reyes Jr. reflect on their journey to gold.
You vs yourself
In his NCAA debut, 18-year-old Fritz Calisaan bagged the 110m hurdles gold medal and 400m hurdles bronze medal along with the prestigious Freshman of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards.
As a new member of the team, all he wanted was the opportunity to prove himself, “My expectation for the season [was] to have a chance to showcase my skills and prove that I can contribute to the team even if I'm just a rookie.”
Despite the injuries and mental breakdowns, Calisaan trained everyday to improve his craft and he witnessed the fruit of his hard work as he excelled in the tournament. Filled with doubts prior to the game, his victory caught him by surprise as he exclaimed, “I won! [Oh] my god, I won. I did that?” during his winning moment.
As he looked back on his journey, Calisaan shared his biggest lesson, “Trusting and believing [in] yourself in every situation is very important because in every race it [is] you vs yourself.” For the Freshman and Rookie of the Year, the highlight of the tournament was not the individual awards but the entire team’s success. “To my coaches and teammates, thank you for trusting and believing in me. My achievement [would not have] happened if not for [your] support.”
Mind over matter
Sophomore Renchard Pagulayan brought home the triple jump gold medal and the 100m run bronze medal. As he nears his fifth year as a track and field athlete, he reflected on what keeps him going despite the hardships. “[The] five years [were] full of frustration, breakdowns, external barriers, and failures but my family, friends, [and] coaches pulled me up on the track and [gave me] peace of mind.”
Pagulayan shared, “I only [expected] to lose because I felt so much pressure [and frustration] from last season. [Takot ako] na baka maulit muli.” Because he grappled with self-doubt, low motivation, and a lack of time management skills, he focused on mental preparation prior to the tournament. “I only played music before the competition and read books [to] prepare mentally. [I] also visualized [what] I should do during the competition in my mind.”
After losing his first event, his breakthrough came after a push from Coach Joseph Sy, “I did not expect na manalo kasi frustrated ako from my first event, but Coach Joseph told me to speed up and reach the cone. [During] the last jump, I visualized what I should do, running through my mind one step at a time, then [I was] able to deliver the lucky jump.”
Pagulayan also acknowledged the individuals who helped him in his journey. “I just want to express my gratitude to my coaches [who] guided [me] throughout the season and for giving me the opportunity and to my family who inspired me. To [Benilde], it’s a privilege na makapag-aral sa prestigious na school, and also my teammates who pushed and motivated me during training.”
Defying odds
They say the third time’s the charm, but Zolio Reyes Jr. immediately struck gold as the javelin throw champion in his first NCAA season. Despite receiving multiple offers from different schools, Reyes followed in his brother’s footsteps—the person who sparked his love for the sport.
“Since my older brother is also a former player of Benilde, he was also the one who suggested I go to Benilde because [of the] many benefits and good courses they offer.”
He also recalled the intense preparation for the tournament, “I had a wrist injury [...] and we trained six days a week in the morning. Even though I had an injury, I was really preparing for NCAA Season 100.”
After the unexpected nature of his win due to injury, Reyes mentioned that he was motivated to continue being a responsible person because all the hard work and training indeed paid off. “The biggest highlight was winning a medal in javelin throw as a first-time player in the NCAA,” he added.
He ended with a message of gratitude, “I'm thankful that we have a coach who has always supported us and cared for all my teammates since day one. I'm thankful to study in Benilde, [and for] this opportunity to show my talent [in the] NCAA, and also to the sports office for supporting us in our game.”
From a lone medal in Season 99 to an impressive eight-medal haul in the centennial season, the future blazes bright under the new breed of Benilde Blazing Tracksters.
