World No. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is set to defend his Asian Record as he leads the Philippine team participating at the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships scheduled from February 10 to 12 in Kazakhstan.
The Filipino champion athlete who holds the Asian Record of 5.94 meters established during his historic bronze-winning pole vault at the 2022 World Athletics meet in Oregon, U.S.A., will banner the 17-member Philippine delegation to the regional tilt.
Obiena previously set the Asian Record at 5.93 meters at the 2021 Golden Roof Challenge in Austria, a historic feat that broke the 23-year-old Asian Record of 5.92 meters made by Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich.
The Asian Indoor Athletics Championships will have the following Filipino athletes in competition:
- Ernest John Obiena (men’s pole vault)
- Hockett Delos Santos (men’s pole vault)
- Natalie Uy (women’s pole vault)
- Mark Harry Diones (men’s triple jump)
- Leonard Grospe (men’s high jump)
- Janry Ubas (men’s long jump and heptathlon)
- Alexie Mae Caimoso (women’s pentathlon)
- Sarah Dequinan (women’s pentathlon)
- Kristina Marie Knott (women’s 60-meter)
- Eric Shaun Cray (men’s 60-meter, 400-meter, 4x400m relay)
- Michael Carlo Del Prado (men’s 400-meter, 4x400m relay)
- Mariano Masano (men’s 800-meter, 4x400m relay)
- Edwin Giron Jr. (men’s 800-meter)
- John Cabang (men’s 60-meter hurdles)
- Jelly Dianne Paragile (women’s 60-meter hurdles)
- Melissa Escoton (women’s 60-meter hurdles)
- William Edward Morrison III (men’s shot put)
The 10th edition of the Asian Indoor Athletics will be the Philippine national athletic team’s first event this year. Other events scheduled are as follows:
- Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia (May 5-17)
- Asian Games in Hangzhou, China (September 23-October 8)
- Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok-Chonburi, Thailand (November 17-26)
SEND WELL WISHES in the comments below to EJ Obiena and the Philippine national athletics team as they participate in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Kazakhstan!
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