by Kristel Satumbaga
Fil-American Natalie Uy boosted her Southeast Asian Games campaign on Tuesday after taking the bronze medal in pole vault in record-breaking fashion at the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The 24-year-old, whose father hails from Cebu, posted 4.20 meters behind Olympian Ling Li and Xu Huiqin of China.
Fil-Am pole vaulter Natalie Uy (right) beams with pride after taking the bronze medal in the Asian Athletics championship pole vault competitions Tuesday in Doha, Qatar. Ling Li of China (center) took the gold while teammate Xu Huqin (left) settled for the silver.
Ling, also the Asian Games champion, retained her crown with a 4.61m performance while teammate Xu came in second with 4.36m.
Uy’s effort shattered her own national mark she made at the National Open in Ilagan, Isabela last March where she posted 4.12m.
Her recent feat was also far better than the reigning SEA Games pole vault winner Chayanisa Chomchuendee of Thailand, who performed 4.10m at the 2018 edition in Malaysia.
Uy, however, has yet to better her personal best of 4.30m she made at a meet in Castellon, Spain last year though she has not yet represented the country at that time.
Uy’s feat came a few days after fellow pole vaulter EJ Obiena shattered the 26-year-old tournament record in the men’s side.