THERE will only be one EJ Obiena and the country’s aspiring pole vaulters will always look up to him for inspiration.
“Si kuya EJ Obiena ang idol ko. Ang target ko rin ay mag-Olympics kagaya ni kuya EJ,” National Capital Region bet Sean Harry Narag said yesterday. “Na-inspire ako noong makita ko sila coach (Emerson Obiena, EJ’s father) na nagte-train.”
Narag spoke yesterday after setting a personal best of 3.90 meters to cop the gold in the high school boys’ pole vault event of the 63rd Palarong Pambansa at the PhilSports Track and Field Oval in Pasig.
Initially trying his luck in hurdles, Narag, 17, held off fellow Big City standout Mejen Sumbongan, who tallied 3.80 meters for the silver in the joust ravaged by rains early morning yesterday.
Central Visayas campaigner Eumar Mamogay finished with 3.30 meters to wrest the bronze as the country’s premier games for elementary and high school students returned after being mothballed the past three years due to the deadly and unseen enemy.
A senior high school student at University of Santo Tomas who hails from Tuguegarao City, Narag said: “Nakikinig lang ako kay coach, sa mga itinuturo niya, iniintindi namin. Sayang din ang opportunity kaya kahit hurdles talaga ang sport ko, grinab ko na ang opportunity na lumipat sa pole vault.”
“Sumali din ako sa hurdles pero hindi ako nag-qualify sa Palarong Pambansa. Since grade six, sa hurdles na ako. Kaya ko namang pagsabayin pero mas masaya sa pole vault.”
Marikina is hosting the Palarong Pambansa for the first time. It hosted the 1980 Palarong Bagong Lipunan, with only the ASEAN School Games in 2014 as its notable hosting of a major sporting event.
Under the theme “Batang Malakas, Bansang Matatag,” the Games has drawn 9,172 athletes, coaches, and officials from 17 regions.
Powerhouse National Capital Region is bidding to annex its 16th straight overall title in the Palarong Pambansa after bagging 86 gold, 71 silver, and 56 bronze medals in Davao in 2019.
