Fil-American bet Natalie Uy tied with two others after clearing 4.11 meters during the 19-29 years-old age-group women’s pole vault meet at the American Track League in Atlanta, Georgia last Saturday.
It was not her best work in weeks, but Uy went on to claim the gold after she cleared the height right on her first attempt.
Marissa Kalsey did it on her second attempt for the silver medal, while Megan Zimlich claimed the bronze following three tries.
The 25-year-old Uy is working on reaching the Olympic entry standard of 4.70 meters.
Doing so will put her in the the qualification process for the Tokyo Olympics.
“I’m going for it,” said Uy in an online interview with the Manila Standard after joining her second competition since emerging from isolation and quarantine last week.
Last July 18, she cleared a new Philippine record of 4.30 meters at the UCS Pink Panther, surpassing her own mark of 4.26 meters.
Her efforts put her sixth behind top American pole vault bets Sandi Morris and Katie Nageotte.
She is expected to move up in the Asian and world rankings following her record-breaking feat. Uy is now no. 74th in the world and no. 6 in Asia.
The Fil-Am pole vaulter is now seeing action under Brad Walker.
Uy’s previous mentor, Becky Holliday, could not be with her when she went into quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last March, Uy had 4.26 meters during the KTTCCCA Indoors in Shelbyville, Indiana.
In the 2019 SEA Games, she took the gold medal in record breaking fashion at 4.25 meters.
Since then, Uy has been ranked no. 1 in Southeast Asia, ahead of fellow Fil-Am Alyanna Nicolas and Malaysian Yu Thian Chuah.
Uy is hoping to reach the Olympic entry standard of 4.70 meters, which will put her in the the qualification process for the Tokyo Olympics.