NAKUHA ni SEA Games medalist at Filipina-American pole vaulter Alyana Nicolas ang gold medal sa katatapos lamang na National Pole Vault Competition ng Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge na ginanap nitong weekend sa Makati City.

Lumundag si Nicolas ng 3.80 meters, sapat para makuha ng ginto habang ang kapwa Fil-Am na si Amy Christensen ay nagtapos sa silver medal finish na may 3.70 meter clearance. Tumapos naman na may bronze medal ang collegiate standouts na sina Jia Kawachi at Jessa Mae Libres.

Ito ang unang competition ni Nicolas buhat noong nanalo siya ng ginto sa ginanap na Philippine Athletics Championships sa New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac nitong Mayo.

Dagdag boost rin para sa San Jose Track Club at Fil-Am Sports standout upang maging mas komportable na lumundag sa 4.00 meters o higit pa sa mga susunod na kompetisyon.

“I’ve been preparing [hopefully] for the 2025 SEA Games but we still don’t know [how will be the roster is], that is the original plan to join a competition this month in the middle of preparations, i’m not really at the peak yet but considering i had really a good attempts before reaching 4.00m and above, im really forward to compete again. Still little rusty competing but kinda proud of what i showed of,” pahayag ni Nicolas sa online interview ng Sports Corner PH.

Malaki rin ang tulong ng nasabing competition upang makilala rin sa publiko ang women’s pole vault na maging kahalintulad rin ng kasikatan ni EJ Obiena na nagpamalas ng kanyang husay sa pole vault sa harap ng libo’t libong kababayan niya na nanoood sa Ayala Triangle Gardens.

“I think its pretty special that we witness the homecrowd watching EJ in front of the homecrowd and the fact he won, i’m just proud of them and such a honor to be part of (history),” wika niya.
Naniniwala din siya na kaya ring makapagproduce ng mga Pinay na i-dedevelop at aangat sa larong Pole Vault.

“I’ve been competing here since 2019 and i’ve seeing girls doing pole vault nowadays, especially Coach Emerson Obiena has its own pole vault club where everyone including women have access to one-of-a-kind training and even Coach Djundi Binas starting his own pole vault club so we could see the growth of women’s pole vault community,” dagdag niya.

Babalik si Alyana ngayong Miyerkules sa Amerika upang ipagpatuloy niya ang kanyang training at target rin niya na makapag-set ng personal record ng 4.30 meters o higit pa.

Kinokonsidera din niya na sumali sa isa pang kompetisyon sa United States bago ang kanyang nalalapit na kampanya sa SEA Games. By Gab Ferreras