ERNEST “EJ” John Obiena leads a 15-man contingent competing in the Asian Athletics Championships from May 27 to 31 in South Korea.
Obiena, the No. 4-ranked pole vaulter in the world, has already made qualification at the Xiamen leg of the Wanda Diamond League.
That’s when the 29-year-old Obiena cleared 5.62 meters for seventh place.
With his performance, Obiena hit the qualification standard of 5.51 meters.
National coach Jeoffrey Chua said Obiena is now part of the national contingent, which is also composed of middle distance runner Yacine Guermali, John Tolentino (400-meter hurdles) and newcomer Carlos de Imus(10,000 meter race walk).
“Yes. He made the team,” said Chua.
Obiena recently claimed the gold medal in the inaugural Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) Pole Vault Challenge at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, on a rainy Wednesday night last week.
While at Vermosa, Obiena repeated his season-best performance of 5.80 meters to claim the gold medal.
Shotput specialist William Morrison III is also coming, along with high jumper Leonard Grospe, Frederick Ramirez (800-meters), pole vaulter Hokket de los Santos, Hussain Lorana, Ronne Malipay, Kharis Pantonial.
Kristina Knott, Lauren Hoffman, Robyn Brown and Bernalyn Bejoy will make up the women’s relay squad and they also compete in individual events.