Pole vaulter becomes first Pinoy athlete to qualify

Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena became the first Filipino athlete to earn a qualification to the 2020 Summer Olympics. According to the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, the Filipino athlete surpassed the 5.80-meter Olympic qualifying standard after registering 5.81 meters at a meet last Tuesday in Chiara, Italy.
The former University of Santo Tomas standout previously broke the national pole vaulting record in 2016 after recording 5.55 meters at the 78th Singapore Open Championships. He broke the record again this year at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar after finishing at 5.71 meters, earning the gold medal.
Obiena has also medaled at other international events, winning gold at the Universiade and a silver medal in the Southeast Asian Games./ASC, WDJ