Hokett de los Santos is now following almost the same exact steps that Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has taken to become Asia’s and the Philippines’ top pole vaulter.
The 20-year-old De los Santos is now in Formia, Italy, working out at the International Association of Athletics Federation Pole Vault Training Center with his coach Emerson Obiena, EJ’s dad.
De los Santos has been there with the elder Obiena for the last three weeks, going through the same routines that EJ went through when he started out.
While in Italy, any opportunity for De los Santos to join competitions in Europe will be welcome.
“Iyun ang hinahanap ko ngayon. Kung mapagbigyan kami na sumali sa mga competitions, mga local meets dito, maganda,” said Obiena, who watched and waited in Italy with Hokett as EJ made qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024 in Stockholm.
The elder Emerson said they are taking the same pathway his son EJ took since 2017.
Six years ago, EJ focused his energies on training and developing his skills under legendary Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov.
Hokett met and talked to Petrov before the Ukrainian coach and EJ went to Stockholm to compete.
Before he went to Italy, De los Santos leapt to a height of 5.0 meters at the Busan International Pole Vault Meeting at Gwangalli beach in Busan, Korea last June 10.
De Los Santos also cleared the same height when he settled for the silver medal to Elijah Cole during the ICTSI-Philippine Athletics Championships in Ilagan, Isabela last March.