By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) believed that pole vault star EJ Obiena and the two other Philippine bets in Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino will perform at the highest level in the coming Paris Olympics.
Jasper Tanhueco, the association’s secretary-general, said the three athletes are facing the biggest challenge of their lives but stressed that they are upbeat the country’s bets will perform more than what they are expected to do.
“We’re positive and confident that they gonna perform at their highest level,” said Tanhuenco in Tuesday’s PSA Forum presented by by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, and ArenaPlus, the leading sports entertainment in the Philippines.
“‘Yon naman din ang goal nila, they’re not there just to participate but hopefully to bring medal for our country,” he added.
“We’re positive, I don’t want to put pressure on these guys. They’ve been training really hard to reach this stage.”
The last time the country won a medal was in 1936 Berlin, Germany where Miguel White took bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Hoffman is currently in Durham, North Carolina while Cabang stays in Spain with his coach and they are set to fly to Metz, France on July 23 to continue their preparations.
The duo qualified after reaching within the entry slot of World Athletics’ Road to Paris list where other hopefuls in Eric Cray, Janry Ubas, Robyn Brown and Kristina Knott failed.
“And of course, what we wish as well they enjoy that experience of representing us and battling with the best of the best,” Tanhuenco continued.
Obiena on the other hand is already in Paris and will vie in the qualifying round on Aug. 3 while Hoffman and Cabang compete in heats of their respective events on Aug. 4.
“EJ has been a lot of challenges, and high competitions. He knows already to compete in the highest level, we believe in him,” he concluded.
