By MARK REY MONTEJO
World No. 7 Dutch Menno Vloon leads the first batch of elite entries that will not only challenge each other but also promote the challenging sport to local fans in the inaugural staging of the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge next month in Makati City.
On Make it Makati’s social media post, organizers unveiled the first batch of topnotch pole vaulters eager to showcase their stuff against the country’s very own in world No. 5 EJ Obiena.
Apart from Vloon, other early entries are Americans Austin Miller (14) and Matt Ludwig (25) – all eager to come and give inspiration to aspiring Filipino pole vaulters.
The World Athletics-sanctioned meet is expected to disclose other participants before it begins on Sept. 20 to 21 at Ayala Triangle Gardens.
The 31-year-old Vloon carries an impressive resume to the tournament having ruled this year’s European Indoor Championships. He also topped the European Games two years ago.
His personal best? 5.96 meters in 2021, a few centimeters shy of Obiena’s record of 6.0m – a national and Asian athletics record – two years ago.
Miller, on the other hand, has won several events in the US.
The High Point University standout cleared 5.92m to win a gold in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon earlier this month.
A 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist, Ludwig is also an experienced athlete who saw action in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Ludwig, 29, has a personal outdoor best of 5.90m and indoor best of 5.85.
The two-day joust turned into reality thanks to the two-time Olympian’s dream of organizing a world-class pole vault here in partnership with the Ayalas.
Last month, Obiena shared that he’s trying his best to invite high-ranking vaulters that include world No. 1 and record holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden.
