Hokett Delos Santos, a mainstay of the national team, won the men's pole vault as the University of Santo Tomas began its championship run in the UAAP Season 87 athletics competition at New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
The EJ Obiena prodigy, Delos Santos, who won a silver medal at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila in 2019, is leading the Tiger Tracksters, who are vying for their eighth championship after clearing the bar in 5.0 meters.
Boost from Obiena
With the donation of a facility by fellow Thomasian and Olympian EJ Obiena, Delos Santos expressed his excitement for the future of pole vaulters in the nation.
“That's one of his dreams, to give back. If we have the facility, more kids will have the opportunity,” he said.
In the men's pole vault, UST finished sweeping the podium. Sean Harry Narag won bronze with a leap of 4.05 meters, and Mejen Sumbongan took silver with a leap of 4.35 meters.
New pole vault facility
Obiena and his group are starting a pole vault facility at Marcos Stadium in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, to give the grassroots a boost.
“My dream is the Philippines being a global force in pole vault doesn’t end with me. It continues on for generations to follow,” Obiena wrote on social media.
Once ranked second in the world, Obiena is now placed fourth, after Armand Duplantis of Sweden, Sam Kendricks of the USA, and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece.
