THERE have only been three Filipino pole vaulters who have cleared five meters: Edward Lasquete and EJ Obiena, who are both Olympians, and Hokett de los Santos, a UST freshman.
De los Santos, a College of Tourism and Hospitality Management freshman, registered a five-meter jump in the Southeast Asian Games performance trials of Milo and the Philippine Athletics Track And Field Association (Patafa) in Baguio on Feb. 24.
De los Santos is trained by no other than Emerson Obiena, the father of EJ, the Asian pole vault record holder who participated in the Tokyo Olympics last year.
“At my age, clearing five meters is a big achievement,” he told the Varsitarian.
De los Santos’ feat was praised by EJ, who also congratulated his father for producing his second five-meter vaulter. EJ was trained in pole vaulting early on by his father.
“This kid just etched his name in the books! Five meters, baby! Let your work show! Proud of you, bud!” EJ wrote in a Facebook post addressed to de los Santos.
According to Emerson, de los Santos’ five-meter vault could be the start of something special.
“For me, Hokett breaking that five-meter barrier opened up the possibilities of him being one of the elites,” the older Obiena said.
“That’s where we started and now we represent the Philippines and the whole of Asia and are winning in an event mostly dominated by Europeans and Americans,” he added.
De los Santos did not grow up in pole vaulting. He was a basketball and volleyball player before he was encouraged by his physical education teacher in high school encouraged him to try athletics.
Emerson saw de los Santos’ talents when he visited Ilagan, Isabela for an athletics clinic to train grassroots athletes.
After junior high school, de los Santos transferred to UST, where he is training under coaches Obiena and Junrey Bano.
“Masipag siyang bata,” Emerson said. “‘Di ko masasabi kung anong mangyayari sa hinaharap pero malaki ang potential ni Hokett.”
De los Santos said among his goals was to be like EJ and “give honor to the Philippines.”
“I don’t know what will happen in the future, I will just continue my training and aiming for greater heights,” he said. “But I will do my very best as I always do.”
