Natalie Uy sets PH pole vault record anew in US tilt

FILE – Gold for Pole Vaulter Natalie Rose Uy during the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the New Clark City. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American pole vaulter Natalie Uy set a new Philippine record and remained on track for an Olympic berth when she returned to action for the Acadia Invitational in Greenville, North Carolina.

Uy cleared 4.30 meters at UCS Pink Panther Pit to break the previous record of 4.25 meters, which she herself set to claim the gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Her new mark bolstered her hopes of qualifying for the Tokyo Games as she aims to clear 4.70 meters and reach the Olympic standard once qualification resumes after the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to sports.

“It was amazing. It was so great just to be around the girls [and] to just have the energy again,” said Uy in an interview during the event broadcasted live by ESPN on YouTube.

“Obviously with the quarantine and everything, it’s been really tough to self-motivate by yourself working out. So just being around all the girls with the crowd, it’s been absolutely incredible.”

Rio Olympics silver medalist Sandi Morris topped the nine-woman competition with 4.81 meters while fellow American Katie Nageotte, the 2018 US Indoor champion, also recorded 4.81 meters but needed more attempts than her compatriot.

Uy’s clearance in the event also matched her personal best she made while training in Spain in 2018.

Morris and her father Harry built the outdoor facility in the middle of the pandemic.