Far from being just an undercard, the NPVC offers local athletes the chance to test their skills at a world-class venue, complete with the runway and crossbar setup that will be used in Sunday’s main event sanctioned by World Athletics.
Men’s Division hopefuls
Leading the men’s lineup are Hokett Delos Santos and Janry Ubas, two multi-event athletes determined to follow in the footsteps of Filipino pole vault icon EJ Obiena.
Delos Santos, mentored by Obiena’s father Emerson, has proven his versatility in decathlon, hurdles, long jump, high jump, javelin throw, and shot put. He also brought home a silver medal at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in 2022.
Ubas, a bemedalled national athlete, has earned honors in the SEA Games across multiple events including long jump, heptathlon, and decathlon. Joining them are Sean Harry Narag, the 2023 Palarong Pambansa pole vault champion, and Mejen Sumbongan, who secured silver medals at the 2024 Philippine National Games and UAAP Season 87.
Also competing are John Philip Villar, a UAAP junior record holder who only began training in 2024, and Filipino-American Enzo Sison, who flew in from the United States to compete on home soil.
Women’s Division contenders
The women’s field is equally stacked with promising names. Filipino-American Alyana Nicolas, a Bronze medalist at the 2023 SEA Games, headlines the division. She has been training for nearly 13 years under pole vault Olympian Ed Lasquete.
Other competitors include UAAP and Philippine Athletics Championship standouts Jia Kawachi, Jessa Marie Libres, Khrizzie Ruzol, and Isabella Louie Sta. Maria.
Veteran Riezel Buenaventura, coached by Emerson Obiena, adds depth to the roster. With nearly two decades in the sport, Buenaventura recently claimed silver at the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships in Sweden.
Rounding out the lineup is Filipino-American Amy Christensen, a silver medalist in the 2025 Philippine National Championships, who also flew in from the US for the event.
A world-class stage
The NPVC highlights the growing pole vault scene in the Philippines and provides athletes the platform to prepare for bigger international stages.
For both seasoned competitors and emerging stars, the event is not just a competition—it’s a launching pad for future champions. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
