MANILA, Philippines — Naniniwala ang Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) na mahihigitan ni World No. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena ang kanyang nilundag na bagong Asian record.
Tinalon ni Obiena ang record-breaking na six-meter jump para angkinin ang gold medal sa katatapos lang na Bergen Jump Challenge sa Bruggen, Norway.
“While we are all elated with EJ Obiena’s 6-meter performance in Norway the other day, we, the PATAFA, believe that he can do better in the coming months and beyond knowing what he’s capable of as a world class athlete,” ani PATAFA president Terry Capistrano kahapon.
Si Obiena ang ika-28 miyembro ng exclusive men’s pole vault 6-meter club na kinabibilangan nina World No. 1 at record holder Armand Duplantis ng Sweden, Renaud Lavillenie ng France at legendary Sergey Bubka ng Ukraine.
Inaasahan ng PATAFA chief na mananalo at magtatala rin ng bagong record si Obiena sa Asian Athletics Championships sa Hulyo 12-16 sa Pattaya, Thailand at sa World Athletics Championships sa Agosto 19-27 sa Budapest, Hungary.
“We are happy and proud of EJ for becoming the first Asian athlete to join the 6-meter club in the men’s pole vault,” ani Capistrano. “But we know he is capable of doing better because of his continuous training and competing abroad under veteran coach Vitaly Petrov plus his perseverance.”
Puntirya rin ng 27-anyos na three-time Southeast Asian Games champion ang gintong medalya sa 19th Asian Games sa Setyembre 23 hanggang Oktubre 8 sa Hangzhou, China.
Ang nasabing mga torneo ay nagsisilbing qualifying events para sa 2024 Olympic Games sa Paris, France.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in order for him to get to where he should be. He has been working very hard and smart to get to that 6-meter,” sabi ni Capistrano kay Obiena.