1-2 finish sa SEAG, titiyakin ng Fil-Am pole vaulters

Photo: foxsportsph (left)/ Alyana Nicolas Pole Vault

Tangkang kunin nina Filipino-American athletes Natalie Uy at Alyana Nicolas ang 1-2 finish sa women’s pole vault competitions ng 30th Southeast Asian Games Athletic competitions.

Kapwa nasa U.S. pa sina Uy at Nicolas para sa final phase ng kanilang paghahanda sa SEA Games na sisimulan sa Nob. 30-Dis. 11 sa 20,000 seater na New Clark City athletics’ stadium sa loob ng 9,500-na ektarya ng NCC sports complex.

“Both Natalie and Alyana are serious and hardworking athletes, who always want to improve and push the envelope. Natalie is now in Arkansas training under Sam Bell of the well-known Arkansas-based Bell Sports. Alyana is in San Jose, California, training under 1991 SEA Games gold medalist, Fil-Am pole vaulter, Edward Lasquete. I’m hoping for a 1-2 finish in the women’s pole vault of the SEA Games,” ayon kay Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Philip Juico.

Maganda ang performance ni Uy noong 2019 Philippine National Open Athletics Championships buwan ng Marso sa Ilagan City Sports Complex, kung saan nasungkit niya ang pole vault gold sa record-smashing na 4.12 meters upang wasakin ang 11-taon na national women’s record na 4.11 meters na itinala noon ni Deborah Samson noong 2008 California Regionals. Nakuha ni Nicolas ang pilak nang malundag ang 3.8 meters.

Kasunod nito ay naka-bronze medal si Uy sa Asian Athletics Championship sa Doha, Qatar kung saan nakapagtala siya ng sariling PHL record na 4.20 meters sa likod ni Chinese star Li Ling na 4.61 meters at kababayang si Xu Hiquin sa 4.36 meters. Iyon ang parehong Asian tournament kung saan naka-gold si Ernest John Obiena sa markang 5.70 meters.