Filipino-American Natalie Uy vaults to fame in record fashion

CITY OF ILAGAN, Philippines — It was all worth the wait for Fil-Am pole vaulter Natalie Uy.

After going through the tedious process of securing documents to compete for Team Philippines, Uy made her long-overdue debut on home soil and spiked it with a record-shattering performance at the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here yesterday.

Uy, a former Eastern Michigan standout, first warmed up at 3.80 meters then 4.00m before setting the bar at 4.12m – one centimeter higher than the standing Phl mark set by Deborah Samson at the Invitational Championships in Cerritos, USA in 1981. The 24-year-old Uy cleared it in one try. She tried 4.20m next but couldn’t make a good clearance anymore, fatigue and the hot Isabela weather already taking a toll.

“It feels  great. I’m very proud, happy. It’s been a dream to go to the Philippines for a very long time so being able to be here and do it like this is amazing,” said Uy.

Alyana Nicolas, another Fil-Am out to prove her worth, posted a best jump of 3.80m to place second to her Team Phl-Ilagan City teammate while Rhiezel Buenaventura grabbed the bronze with 3.40m.

“It’s incredible, I couldn’t be happier with how today went,” said Uy, whose mark actually surpassed the winning 4.10m in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. “I was a bit nervous the entire week  but today I just knew had to go out here and do what I knew how to do.”

Anfernee Lopena and Kristina Knott emerged first double gold medalists of the APAC after ruling the century dash and took part in the winning 4x100m relay teams.

Lopena crowned himself the fastest man in 10.63 seconds ahead of Air Force’s Isidro del Prado Jr. (11.26) then joined forces with Eric Cray, Clinton Bautista and Jomar Utdohan in clocking 40.13 in the relay. Knott duplicated the feat in the distaff side, reigning solo in 11.65 seconds and annexing the relay mint with twins Kyla and Kayla Richardson and Zion Nelson at 45.60.

Current national team mainstays and prospects as well as standouts from the juniors rank led by hometown boy Hokett delos Santos, also had their day in the sun.

Janry Ubas, the 2017 SEAG bronze medalist, leapt 7.55m to wrest the men’s long jump diadem from Julian Fuentes (7.24m) as well as comebacking Fil-Am Donovant Arriola, who struggled with 7.07m to settle for sixth overall.

Ubas, back in action after getting sidelined by a motorcycle accident in 2018, gunned for the 7.99m record of Henry Dagmil but fouled.

“Hindi pa siguro para sa akin yung record. Nakita ko lumagpas ako doon sa marker pero pagbagsak ko ay napaatras ang pwet ko. Pero thankful pa rin ako na naabot ko yung qualifying mark (7.53) para makapasok ulit sa national team,” said the pride of Cagayan de Oro.

Francis Medina (52.36 seconds) outclassed fellow Phl-City of Ilagan bet Michael Del Prado (54.62) for the men’s 400m hurdles plum, while Fil-Am aspirant Robyn Brown won the distaff side in 61.27 seconds, meeting Team Phl’s qualifying standard of 62 seconds. US-based Carter Lilly topped the 800m (1:50.93).

In juniors’ play, Ilagueño delos Santos followed up his triumph in the SEA Youth meet with another feat in the boys’ pole vault, logging a new personal best of 4.30m to dislodge 2018 winner La Salle’s Francis Obiena (4.20).

“Masaya kasi naka-dalawang gold na ako dito sa amin at na-beat ko pa yung 4.20m ko noong SEA Youth,” said Delos Santos from nearby Santa Barbara town.

University of the Philippines’ discus thrower Ed Delina repeated as champ after a 44.75m  effort – the farthest in the juniors rank using the 1.75k disc – with Adamson’s Daniel Rambacal (40.40m) at second. “Ayos naman ang performance considering medyo kulang sa training dahil hell week namin,” said Delina from San Felipe, Zambales.

Jesse Marie Libres of Santo Tomas upstaged reigning SEA Youth princess and UST teammate Ma. Khrizzie Ruzol for the girls’ pole vault plum. The two posted identical 2.60 efforts but Libres won on fewer attempts.