ABSOLUTELY focused on his Paris Olympic medal bid, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena has decided not to join the Pinoy contingent preparing in Metz, France, opting instead for a separate camp in the days before the qualifying day of his pet event on Aug. 3 at the Stade de France.
“EJ won’t be with his Olympic teammates in Metz, France and has decided to have his own training camp with the rest of his coaching staff just outside Paris,” athletics secretary general Jasper Tanhueco said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission conference room.
Tanhueco said Obiena will be with his coaching staff led by famed Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov, Saudi training partner Husain Al Hizam, physiotherapist Francesco Viscusi, osteopath Antonio Guglietta and sports psychologist Dr. Sheryll Casuga at the camp.
Tanhueva said the other two Olympic qualifiers in athletics — John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman — will have bonding time with their Paris-bound teammates a few days before the world sports extravaganza opens on July 26.
Tolentino, who will run the women’s 400-meter hurdles, and Tolentino, slated to compete in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, rounded up the national track and field squad after finishing in the top 40 of their respective events in the World Athletics qualifying ratings.
“Lauren and Cabang will definitely spend a few days with the other Olympians in France,” said Tanhueco in the public sports program backed by the PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, Smart/PLDT and San Miguel Corp, and Arena Plus.
The Spain-based Tolentino and Hoffman will make their Olympic debut in the qualifying heats of both events on Aug. 4 and are hoping to advance to the finals of their respective events four days later.
Asked about the public pronouncement that six-time Southeast Asian Games men’s 400-meter hurdles gold medalist Eric Cray would be retiring after next year’s Thailand Southeast Asian Games, Tanhueco declined to make any comment until they had talked to the athlete.
“What I know that Eric has given a lot of honor to our country and seems fitter than I am so we shall see,” said Tanhueco.
“We’re positive about our chances. I don’t want to put pressure on these guys. But we know they’ve been training hard for them to reach this stage,” Tanhueva said of Obiena, Tolentino and Hoffman.
“We just need to believe in our athletes. We’re confident they will perform at the highest level. They’re not there to participate but hopefully win medals for our country.”
