WHILE not ruling himself totally out of a fourth straight Southeast Asian Games men’s pole vault gold medal, Ernest John Obiena is mulling giving his would-be successors – Fil-Am Elijah Cole and Hokett Delos Santos – the chance to represent the country in his pet event to vie for top honors in the 33rd edition of the regional sportsfest in Thailand in December.
“Of course, we want to win gold medals, we want to compete, but at the same time, we won’t be here forever,” said Obiena, 29, over the weekend at the press briefing shortly after ruling the inaugural Atleta Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge with a season-best matching jump of 5.80 meters.
“We need the next guys (Cole and Delos Santos) to step up,” added Obiena, who explained that this is why Delos Santos, who topped the national meet at the same venue the previous day in clearing five meters flat, saw action among the global pole vault elite the next day.
“This was the reason why we put Hokett on the stage, nerves and all, to allow competing with the best of the best, to make him stronger to deliver under pressure,” said Obiena of the protégé of his father, national pole vault coach Emerson, who bowed out early in the event.
With only two slots available for the men’s pole vault event in the Thailand Southeast Asian Games, Obiena said he would have no second thoughts about giving up his slot for both if they were primed and ready to go for the gold in the sportsfest.
Obiena captured his third Southeast Asian Games mint in a row in the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in a new SEA Games mark of 5.65 meters, ahead of Thais Kasinob Chomchanad and Patsapong Amsang-ang, who took the silver and bronze, respectively.
Both Thai bets jumped 5.20 meters, with Chomchanad securing second on the countback.
Cole, 27, has a personal best of 5.40 meters while Delos Santos, 22, has cleared 5.15 meters as his personal best.
“I don’t want to take a spot from either of them if I can help it; I believe in them. I know the pressure that’s coming, but I have seen Hokett under pressure and I know that Eli (Cole’s nickname) has been training hard for it,” Obiena said. “I do hope that come SEA Games, they are going to be ready.
“If any of them can win a gold, why should I take that experience away from them. I think it would be a waste. I want the next generation to step up so we can continue to have world-class pole vaulters in the country.”
