RISING POLE vaulter EJ Obiena has decided to spend the remaining days of his training for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Italy, where conditions and facilities should enable him to maintain his top form.
Obiena had earlier wanted to stay behind until the SEAG formally starts but was compelled to pack his bags and resume his training with Vitaly Petrov in Italy.
“There are other disciplines that are important for improvement,” said athletics head Philip Juico, noting that the absence of gymnastics facilities in the country forced the 6-foot-2 Obiena to leave.
Juico said Obiena was hoping to stay provided that a gymnastics apparatus was going to be installed for him to use.
“Inadequacies,” said Juico, stressing that gymnastics play a vital part in Obiena’s training.
Instead, Obiena will miss this weekend’s SEAG test event at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, and will only return to the country a week before pole vault is played in the first week of December.
Last September, the 23-year-old Obiena hit 5.81 meters to earn a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Meanwhile, Thailand is sending practically its SEAG-bound track and field squad to the test event.
Unlike the Thais, the Philippines will be participating in minus many of its gold medal hopefuls who are neck-deep in training in the US.
But the sprinting Richardson sisters—Kayla and Kyla—are attending, according to Juico. (Nick Giongco)
