By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — Ranked world No. 5 in men’s pole vault by the World Athletics Rankings, Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena will be defending his gold medal while also trying to break his own Asian Games record in the men’s pole vault as he leads a 24-member Philippine athletics team in this year’s 49th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
At a press briefing, Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano disclosed that the team is in harness for the competition, which starts today, September 23, at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya City in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture.
Joining Obiena in the country’s Asiad campaign are medal hopefuls John Cabang Tolentino, Lauren Hoffman and Victoria Bossong.
In the briefing, Capistrano admitted that it would be difficult to make any medal predictions as there are many upcoming athletes from other countries who could give Obiena steep competition.
“It’s so difficult to gauge or make any prediction about our medal chances. But we do believe our quality athletes will surprise us. They have been working really hard since they arrived here in Nagoya despite the rains. They really conditioned themselves,” he enthused.
PATAFA’s head highlighted that Obiena owns the Asian record of 6.00 meters and the Asian Games record of 5.90 meters, which he set in Hangzhou three years ago.
On the other hand, Tolentino is the 2025 Bangkok Southeast Asian Games champion in the hurdles and an Olympian, alongside Hoffman, while Filipino-American Bossong has the numbers to contend for podium finishes in the middle-distance races.
The other national athletes in the national athletics team are Yacine Guermali in the 5,000 meters, Sonny Wagdos in the 5,000 meters and marathon, Richard Solaño and Artjoy Torregosa in the marathon, Neil Michael Catral in the 200 meters, Anfernee Lorena in the 100 meters, Jessica Rose Laurence in the women’s 100 meters, Zion Rose Nelson in the women’s 100 and 200 meters, Kristina Marie Knott in the relays, Hussein Loraña in the 800 meters, Naomi Johnson in the 200 meters, Diana Pama in the relays, Lanz Arcenal in the 400 meters, Michael Carlo Del Prado in the 400 meters and veterans Janry Ubas in the long jump and Leonard Grospe in the high jump, along with Gabriel Borado in the 400 meters, Nathaniel Seiler in the marathon race walk, Frederick Ramirez in the relays and Kent Francis Jardin in the 100 meters and relays.
“These athletes are all capable of making the final round.(It’s) incredibly challenging, so we will take it from there and hopefully podium finishes,” Capistrano cited.
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