Stuart, Obiena open SEA Games athletics campaign

SINGAPORE—Thrower Caleb Stuart and pole vaulter EJ Obiena shoot for the gold when the track and field competitions of the 28th Southeast Games fire off Tuesday at the 55,000-seat Singapore National Stadium, the world’s largest domed structure.

Stuart, a Filipino-American from California, is tipped to nail the country’s first gold in the Games’ centerpiece sport when he vies in the men’s hammer throw.

The beefy 24-year-old heaved a career-best 68.66 meters in a competition in Fullerton, California, a few months ago. Defending champion Tantipong Phetchaiya of Thailand holds the SEA Games record of 62.23m.

“I feel good. My technique was far better when I was in Laguna (during the national track and field open),” said Stuart, crediting his American coach Shaun McGinley for the improvement.

Stuart is also a big contender for the shot put and discus gold.

Obiena trained under six-time world champion Sergey Bubka in Fornia, Italy, for three months, and the lanky, 6-foot-1 jumper cleared 5.21m in recent training, far better than the SEA Games mark of Thai defending champion Kreeta Sintawacheewa (5.15m).

“Things have changed since I last competed (in the Games),” said Obiena, son of Filipino pole vault great Emerson Obiena, who placed fourth in the event in Burma. “I’m ready to contend.”

Also gunning for gold in today’s competitions are decathlete Jesson Ramid Cid, triple jumper Mark Harry Diones, Princess Joy Griffey and Kayla Richardson (women’s 100m), Janry Ubas (pole vault) and Eric Cray in the men’s century dash.