ATHLETICS training director Renato Unso yesterday clarified that pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena has not been excluded from the national team to the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, saying his inclusion will depend on the outcome of the mediation initiated by the Philippine Sports Commission between Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association that began last Monday.
“Patafa never said that he would be dropped from the national team, but I personally wrote him last Feb. 28 on behalf of the association that his Feb. 24 letter asking our endorsement to four international events depended on the outcome of the mediation process organized by the PSC,” Unso said.
PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has taken an active hand in the exercise, asking the Patafa and Obiena not to issue any statements to the media while mediation is going on.
“There is still some time left for his inclusion to the national team to the Vietnam SEA Games since the deadline of the entry by name is on March 13,” Unso said. “It will all depend on EJ now.”
But he acknowledged that Obiena’s participation in the World Indoor Championships, one of the meets that Obiena had asked to be accredited, is no longer feasible since the registration deadline of the event set March 18 to 20 in Belgrade, Serbia was March 7.
Obiena admitted as much in a post in his official Facebook account yesterday, saying: “If @pet Rouen is my last indoor competition of the year, I’m grateful. I never thought this season would be even possible more so a new personal best and a national record.”
He referred to his jump of 5.91 meters, a new national indoor mark, when he finished second behind American Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Christopher Nielsen in the Perche Elite Tour men’s pole vault event last Sunday in Rouen, France.
“I hope I would be able to see you @wabelgrade22 and compete for the colors in the world indoor championship. As the clock ticks, nearing the deadline of entry and uncertainty looms upon me, I pray,” he added.
