In-form Uy surpasses national mark in training

MANILA, Philippines — Fil-Am pole-vault ace Natalie Uy cleared 4.32 meters during her training in Jonesboro, Arkansas yesterday to underscore her continued progress.

The 25-year-old Uy’s effort surpassed the standing national record of 4.30, she herself set in the Acadia Invitational in Greenville, North Carolina last year and later matched in the USATF Invitational in Prairie View, Texas a month back.

The performance, however, does not count as a national record since she accomplished the feat in practice.

It was nonetheless good news for Uy as it reflected her recovery from a right wrist injury that stymied her Olympic bid.

“New lil (little) national record. 4.32 down here in Jonesboro with some good attempts at 4.40,” said Uy on her Instagram account with an accompanying video of her recent feat.

“Just happy to be able to do what I love,” she added.

If she keeps it up, Uy should be the favorite to snare the gold in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games where she is the defending champion and owner of the standing meet mark of 4.25 she registered two years ago at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.