EJ Obiena says inclusion in world meet a ‘big step’ for Hokett delos Santos

Native standout Hokett delos Santos positive aspects helpful expertise after competing with a few of the finest pole vaulters on this planet within the dwelling meet of Filipino star EJ Obiena

MANILA, Philippines – Native pole vault standout Hokett delos Santos obtained a style of the world stage on Sunday, September 21, battling elite vaulters, together with his idol EJ Obiena, within the first-ever Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Problem.

Whereas Delos Santos registered a “no mark” within the competitors, Obiena believes such an occasion will foster progress for the younger prodigy because it uncovered him to a few of the sport’s finest. 

“It’s a extremely good alternative for him, although the end result didn’t play out the way in which I imagine he needed. You realize what Filipinos really lack in comparison with these guys and all the fellows right here? It’s competitors,” stated Obiena, who received the meet by clearing 5.80 meters, beating France’s Thibaut Collet through countback.

The competition additionally included the likes of world No. 5 Ersu Sasma of Turkey, bronze winner and No. 15 Piotr Lisek of Poland, and No. 16 Oleg Zernikel of Germany.

“We don’t have this sort of competitors. That is the primary. That is the most important. That is method larger than the [Southeast Asian] Video games and the Asian Video games. That is world-class. That is the primary time he stepped foot on the monitor with us,” Obiena stated. 

Delos Santos has been thought-about certainly one of Obiena’s heirs within the native pole vault scene alongside Elijah Cole.

A student-athlete for UST, Delos Santos is the reigning UAAP pole vault champion and has since made waves in several worldwide tournaments, successful silver medal within the Southeast Asian Video games in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2022.

The 22-year-old standout is being coached by Obiena’s father, Emerson, at UST since popping out of Isabela by way of the Palarong Pambansa. 

Delos Santos owns a private better of 5.15 meters, which he achieved in October 2024.

For Obiena, Delos Santos nonetheless has loads to be taught however much more potential to unlock.

“He might need been intimidated [by us]. That was me first in Europe,” Obiena, who was additionally a product of UST’s athletic program. “However you get to be taught this. You be taught that they’re a bit of bit whiter, a bit of bit extra good-looking, however we’re the identical. You realize, we are able to soar. We are able to push our our bodies to the bounds and actually compete with the very best of the very best.”

“I feel this can be a big step for him on the subject of expertise. Attending to understand how the world of pole vaulting works, tips on how to compete with guys who might soar six meters, and knocking on it. I imagine that is simply as onerous for him than anybody. I’m actually proud that he went out and actually did the very best that he might.”

On Saturday, September 20, Delos Santos logged a 5.00-meter effort to prime the Nationwide Pole Vault Competitors that preluded the world meet. 

Obiena additionally hopes the World Pole Vault Problem will function a stepping stone for Delos Santos forward of his upcoming competitions, together with the UAAP in November and the SEA Video games in December, the place he’s among the many prime candidates to get the nation’s two males’s pole vault slots. 

“The entire thought is to provide him the expertise of a world-class competitors. Subsequently, when he steps foot within the SEA Video games or Asian Video games, it’s going to be a stroll within the park,” he stated. “The nerves are going to be there, however he has expertise and may management them.” – Rappler.com