OLYMPIC hopeful Ernest John Obiena once again rewrote the record books by surpassing his own Philippine record in the pole-vaulting event at the recently-concluded Philippine National Games in Pangasinan last March 13.
The electronics engineering major surpassed his record of 5.46 meters set last month by a whisker, clearing 5.47 meters in the annual event. He tried to attempt the hallowed Olympic standard of 5.70 meters, but failed twice.
“My emotions were blank [after the attempt],” he told the Varsitarian. “Maybe [I could have cleared] 5.70 meters but only God would know what I could have done that day. But one thing is for sure. It was not my best result.”
The six-foot-two stalwart lamented the loss of his six poles, which were damaged during a flight he took after participating in the Singapore Athletic Association Series 7 meet last March 6, wherein he cleared only 5.20 meters. He was forced to use a softer pole and a different approach in the National Games.
The Trackster’s journey of punching a ticket to the Summer Olympics in Rio this August will continue with his participation in the Taipei Indoor Open in Taiwan on March 23.
