(NI JEAN MALANUM)

TATANGKAIN nina Fil-Americans Natalie Uy at Alyana Nicolas ang 1-2 finish sa women’s pole vault ng 30th Southeast Asian Games athletics competition.

Parehong nasa Amerika sina Uy and Nicolas para sa final phase ng kanilang paghahanda sa SEA Games na idaraos mula Nobyembre 30 hanggang Disyembre 11  sa 20,000-seater na New Clark City Athletic Stadium sa Capas, Tarlac.

“Both Natalie and Alyana are serious and hardworking athletes who always want to improve and push the envelope. Natalie is now in Arkansas training under Sam Bell of the well-known Arkansas-based Bell Sports. Alyana is in San Jose, California, training under 1991 SEA Games gold medalist, Fil-Am pole vaulter, Edward Lasquete. I’m hoping for a 1-2 finish in the women’s pole vault of the SEA Games,” paliwanag ni Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico kahapon.

Unang nakilala si Uy sa 2019 Philippine National Open Athletics Championships noong Marso sa Ilagan City Sports Complex kung saan nakuha niya ang gintong medalya sa sukat na 4.12 meters matapos na sirain ang 11-taong women’s record na 4.11 meters na itinala ni Deborah Samson sa 2008 California Regionals.

Napunta naman ang silver medal kay Nicolas na nagtala ng 3.8 meters.

Pagkatapos ng isang buwan, nasungkit ni Uy ang bronze medal sa Asian Athletics Championship sa Doha, Qatar kung saan binura niya ang sariling Philippine record na 4.20 meters sa likod nina Chinese star Li Ling (4.61 meters) at compatriot Xu Hiquin (4.36 meters). Dito rin napanalunan ni Ernest John Obiena ang nag-iisang gold medal ng Pilipinas nang magtala ito ng 5.70 meters.

Sa darating na SEA Games, nais ng  24-taong gulang na si Uy na tumbasan ang kanyang personal-best na 4.30 meters na ginawa noong isang taon sa Spain kung saan siya namalagi habang hinihintay ang kanyang citizenship.
Ang kanyang talon na 4.30 meters ay mahusay sa 4.10 meters na itinala ni Thai Chayanisa Chomchuendee nang manalo ito sa 2017 SEAG sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nakapaglaro sana si Uy sa national team noong 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games ngunit nakuha lang niya ang kanyang Philippine passport sa kagitnaan ng Agosto kung kailan nagsisimula na ang tournament.

“There would be no hiccups like that this time,” pagtitiyak ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez. “Government has also made sure that the athletes’ training are funded. It’s already near the main days and here are the athletes about to close their various camps.”
“I’m just excited to be here. It’s a dream come true for me to come here,” pahayag ng Eastern Michigan University standout noong naglaro siya sa National Open.

“It’s all worth it to be here. I love being here. I’ve been working to come here for a while, working on my citizenship and figuring out all the hurdles to get here,” dagdag ni Uy na ang tatay ay Cebuano.

Katulad ni  Uy, excited din si Nicolas na maglaro para sa Pilipinas matapos na mag-migrate sa Amerika noong bata pa siya.