Las Justas
The Justas de Atletismo y Festival Deportivo de Puerto Rico —better known as Las Justas Intercolegiales or simply as Las Justas — is an intercollegiate sports competition held annually in Puerto Rico where Puerto Rican colleges and universities compete against each other in different sports. The event is sponsored by the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico. The event usually include competitions in softball, basketball, beach volleyball, judo, table tennis, swimming, cheerleading, women's football, and athletics.
The sporting event is supplemented by artistic presentations that take place after the events come to an end each night. The athletics portion of the events is attended by some 20,000 spectators, while the cultural events receive upwards of 150,000 guests.
For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993 it was moved to the city of Ponce, where - except for 2010 and 2016 – it has been held since. The week-long event takes place during the month of April. Due to the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes in the Ponce area, the 2020 edition of the Justas was moved from Ponce and were scheduled to take place in Mayagüez from 23 to 25 April at the Jose Antonio Figueroa Freyle Stadium. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria announced on 15 March 2020, that the event was being suspended and that a new future date would be sought. Given the islandwide COVID-19 curfew and lockdown ordered by the Government of Puerto Rico subsequent to the 15 March LAI suspension decision date, on 13 April 2020 the LAI announced the event could not be held and canceled it for the remainder of the 2020 season.
History
Las Justas date back to the creation of Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico. The league was founded in 1929 by Cosme Beitía of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, Charles Leker for the Instituto Politécnico de San German, and Luis Izquierdo Galo y José D. Morales from the Colegio de Agricultura y Artes Mecanicas of Mayagüez. Las Justas began as a three-event competition between the institutions in the year 1929: baseball, basketball, and athletics.Originally it included only male participants but starting with the 1969-1970 academic year women began competing as well. Las Justas had been moved to Ponce in 1993 as a test for the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games. For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993 the event was moved to the city of Ponce which has all the required facilities for holding the event. In 2010 the event was held in Mayagüez in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. The event resumed in Ponce in 2011, and continued in Ponce in 2012.
Venue
Sporting events take place at the sports facilities of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, the athletic field at urbanización Villa del Carmen, Polideportivo at urbanización Los Caobos, Paquito Montaner Stadium, Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, and the Victor Vassallo Olympic Swimming Pool. Musical events take place at Plaza Las Delicias. La Guancha is also another recreational and musical venue.Security
With over 200,000 people attending Las Justas every year, security has been a major concern. In 2010, for example, 13 people were arrested for drug activities during the events. Las Justas, it is said, has evolved into a Puerto Rican-style Spring Break. Close to 1,500 security personnel patrol the event for security. A number of items are not permitted in the areas where activities of Las Justas are celebrated, including both sporting events and associated musical celebrations. Coolers, liquids not in their original containers, glass bottles, umbrellas, baseball bats, canes, and fire arms are some of the items that are excluded. In 2012, Enrique Arrarás Mir, the Commissioner of the event, said that “the safest place in all of Puerto Rico during the celebration of Las Justas will be the city of Ponce”. In 2011, in Mayaguez, there were also arrests for drunkness and drug trafficking. In 2014, electronic scanners were implemented at checkpoints, doing away with the former and slower manual frisk system.Economy
In 2009, it was estimated that Las Justas generate close to $6 million USD in income resulting from food and other sales as well as lodging. In addition to donating the use of the facilities throughout the city, the Ponce Municipal Government also contributes $200,000 to the costs of celebrating Las Justas in Ponce.Broadcast
The events are relayed via DIRECTV and via Canal Universitario Ana G. Méndez “Sistema TV” on channels 40 and 26, as well as streamed via www.sistematv.com.Sports played
- men's baseball
- men's & women's basketball
- men's & women's cross country
- men's & women's judo
- men's & women's soccer
- men's & women's softball
- men's & women's swimming
- men's & women's table tennis
- men's & women's tennis
- men's & women's volleyball
- men's water polo
- men's weightlifting
- men's wrestling
- men's & women's cheerleading
Participants
Institution | Institution | Acronym | Location | Year joined |
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras | Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras | UPR | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1929 |
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez | Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez | RUM | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | 1929 |
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico | Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico | UIPR | San German, Puerto Rico | 1929 |
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico | PUC | Ponce, Puerto Rico | 1954 |
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey | UPRC | Cayey, Puerto Rico | 1971 |
University of Turabo | Universidad del Turabo | UT | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | 1975 |
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Humacao | UPRH | Humacao, Puerto Rico | 1975 |
University of the Sacred Heart | Universidad del Sagrado Corazón | USC | Santurce, Puerto Rico | 1979 |
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Bayamón | UPRB | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 1980 |
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Arecibo | UPRA | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | 1983 |
American University of Puerto Rico | AUPR | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 1991 | |
Bayamón Central University | Universidad Central de Bayamón | UCB | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 1991 |
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ponce | UPRP | Ponce, Puerto Rico | 1992 |
University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Aguadilla | UPAG | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | 1992 |
University of Puerto Rico at Carolina | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Carolina | UPCA | Carolina, Puerto Rico | 1994 |
University of Puerto Rico at Utuado | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Utuado | UPRU | Utuado, Puerto Rico | 1998 |
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico | Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico | POLI | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1999 |
Eastern University | Universidad del Este | UNE | Carolina, Puerto Rico | 2005 |
Metropolitan University | Universidad Metropolitana | UMET | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 2005 |
Caribbean University | CU | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 2005 | |
University of the Virgin Islands | UVI | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | 2005 |
Winners
According to Gabrielle Paese, Las Justas have become “a power struggle between just two universities: Turabo, the Caguas school in the Ana G. Mendez system, versus San German’s Inter American University. Led by two strong track coaches the schools compete for the overall title. That means the meet becomes more about which school accumulates the most points and less about individual performance.”2011
The 2011 winners were as follows:Men's competitions
- First Place: Tigres of the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, 161.50 points.
- Second Place: Pitirres of the Universidad del Este, 144 points.
- Third Place: Taínos of the Universidad del Turabo.
Women's competitions
- First Place: Cocodrilas of the Universidad Metropolitana, 201 points.
2012
Men’s competitions
- First Place: Tigres of the Universidad Interamericana, 255 points.
- Second Place: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico, 210 points.
- Third Place: Gallitos of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 146.50 points.
- Fourth Place: Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, 108 points.
Women’s competitions
- First Place: Taínas of the Universidad del Turabo, 274 points.
- Second Place: Gallitos of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 206 points.
- Third Place: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico, 121 points.
- Fourth Place: Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, 106 points.
2013
Men’s competitions
- First Place: Tigres of the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, 180 points.
- Second Place: Pitirres of the Universidad del Este, 150 points.
- Third Place: Taínos of the Universidad del Turabo, 123 points.
- Fourth Place: Gallitos of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 117 points.
- Fifth Place: Cocodrilos of the Universidad del Este, 83 points.
Women’s competitions
- First Place: Cocodrilas of the Universidad Metropolitana, 152 points.
- Second Place: Pitirres of the Universidad del Este, 142 points.
- Third Place: Tigresas of the Universidad Interamericana, 137 points.
- Fourth Place: Taínas of the Universidad del Turabo, 124 points.
Specific sport results
Dance Teams
2008
- 1st University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras
- 2nd University of Puerto Rico at Bayamon
- 3rd University of Puerto Rico at Ponce
- 4th Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
- 5th Universidad Interamericana
2009
- 1st Universidad de Puerto Rico en Bayamon
- 2nd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
- 3rd Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
- 4th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ponce
- 5th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
2010
- 1st Universidad de Puerto Rico, Bayamon
- 2nd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
- 3rd Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
- 4th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Carolina
- 5th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ponce
2011
- 1st Universidad de Puerto Rico, Bayamon
- 2nd Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
- 3rd Universidad Metropolitana
- 4th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ponce
- 5th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Carolina
2012
- 1st Universidad de Puerto Rico, Bayamon
- 2nd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
- 3rd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Carolina
- 4th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ponce
- 5th Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
2013
- 1st Universidad de Puerto Rico, Bayamon
- 2nd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
- 3rd Universidad Metropolitana
- 4th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
- 5th Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico
2014
- 1st Universidad de Puerto Rico, Bayamon
- 2nd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
- 3rd Universidad de Puerto Rico, Carolina
- 4th Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico
- 5th Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ponce