By: Aishah Jimenez
Matt David Obiena secured a gold in pole vault and Jettro Montejo took bronze in shot put at the NCAA Season 100 Track and Field Tournament. Photo Courtesy: Matt Obiena.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran triumphs on dual podiums after Matt David Obiena leaped first in pole vaulting tilt and Jettro Montejo delivered bronze in the shot put event to round out the NCAA Season 100 Track and Field Tournament from March 16-18 at the New Clark City.
Another Obiena on the rise
Matt Obiena, the younger cousin of the World’s No.4 vaulter, EJ Obiena, took the gold back in Muralla after victoriously clearing the 4.10 meters, edging out the other 15 candidates. Close behind him was Arellano University’s John Parulan who ranked second and UPHSD’s Vale Domalaon Jr. who clinched bronze.
While the prize is already secured in his first attempt, the graduating Digital Arts student eyed another jump over the 4.20 meters that would break his 4.15 meters personal best, dating back last October when he won bronze in the PATAFA Weekly Relay Series finals campaign. This, however, has not been reaped as he suddenly felt discomfort with his left foot.
“As I was running, I felt that my foot was not pushing off, and I could not run anymore so I stopped midway because I really felt that there was pain, and when I checked it, it was hurting so I went to my uncle. I was disappointed to the point that I started crying at that time because both my mind and heart were set to go for a higher performance, but unfortunately, my foot gave in,” Obiena bared.
Luckily, as per the doctor, his foot was just strained and did not bear any fractures, and is presently recovering by taking medications.
Due to such a circumstance, the 22-year-old vaulter managed to only tick off one of his three goals coming into this season which is to ensure a placement in the top three. The remaining goals are to go for a new personal best and to break the 4.40-meter outstanding NCAA record from Arellano’s Eugene Bongalos in season 99.
Nonetheless, the former still regards his recent feat as a good performance and is actually a redirection from his 4th-place heartbreak in his debut in the league back in season 94.
“It was rewarding seeing my coaches and fellow teammates cheer for me and watch me on the side during my jumps and it was a different kind of feeling finally being able to bring home the bacon for the Colegio. Back in season 94, I was just in grade 11, and it was one of the competitions where I was starting to seriously take up pole vaulting. So knowing then that I was one attempt short from placing in the top three, it was really heartbreaking for me,” said the senior vaulter.
His league adventures were put on hold, from season 96 to 98, as the pandemic struck the entire country; and in season 99, he was forced to miss time once more owing to an eligibility issue, thereby making the gold a six-year process.
The rising vaulter admitted that coming into a family of athletes, and with Obiena as his surname, pressure is inevitable. Yet, he acknowledged that each of them has different sets of talents, circumstances, and skills so he would just use what others have already achieved as fuel to motivate himself to work harder.
Although his future plans are yet to be final, Obiena expressed that his short-term goals involve rehabilitating his left foot and competing in the upcoming national open. For the long term run, the graduating athlete still weighs whether he will focus on his career or train more or do both, concurrently.
Montejo’s first medal in three years
Jettro Montejo, on the other hand, secured his first medal in the NCAA after three years. He finished bronze in the shot put event after his put landed on the 12.82-meter mark. Christopher Apawan from Arellano stood second with a 13.43 meter mark while MU’s Aron Cuenca defended the crown with 14.08 meters.
The junior thrower’s highest achievement wearing the blue and red uniform prior to this was his fourth-place finish back in season 99.
"Placing fourth last season was a huge upset for me. It came to the point where I felt like I had to quit, but still decided to continue," said Montejo.
Montejo likewise voiced that the supposed entire year preparation for the coming season was cut down into two months owing to numerous responsibilities on top of sustaining an injury nearing the opening of the tournament. The podium finish could be owed to his experiences in varied national events, hence his pleasure after his match.
“I am very happy knowing that I was able to bring glory to Letran along with Matt Obiena. The night before my game, I manifested before him that I would join him in the roster of medalists and I felt so much bliss that it came true,” he added.
While the team’s Assistant Coach Iso Dasigan had passed, the third-year Marketing Management student expressed that nothing had been lost. All their wins, may it be inside or outside the four corners of the Colegio, are dedicated to him.
Having two more playing years left apart from having additional coaches, Montejo hopes for two things — to notch the gold and eventually set the new NCAA record next season.