MANILA, Philippines — It was all love between pole vaulter EJ Obiena and sprinter Kristina Knott after the latter represented the Philippines in the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
Obiena, who was supposed to join Knott in the Philippine contingent but was sidelined due to non-endorsement from the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, congratulated his teammate for a season-best result in the competition.
"Whilst I am understandably disappointed by my exclusion from today's World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, there is a time and place to put aside such feelings and put out country first," Obiena wrote on social media.
"My teammate Kristina proudly represented the Philippines in the Women's 60 meters. Whilst she didn't advance to the semi-finals, in one of the world's most competitive events, she ran valiantly for our flag," he added.
Knott clocked in 7.39 seconds in the competition, beating her previous season best of 7.42 ticks in the World Tune-up-Adam Sanford Pro finals in New York just a few weeks ago.
Obiena and Knott were both competitors in the Tokyo Olympics last year and are both gold medal winners in the SEA Games.
The 26-year-old also encouraged Knott coming into the biennial met in Hanoi this May.
"I am proud to call Kristina a teammate and friend and I want to thank her for making our nation proud. SEA Games are next and I am sure Kristina shall defend her gold medals in Hanoi!," Obiena said.
Still due to his rift with PATAFA, Obiena's gold medal defense in the SEA Games is also in peril.
The NSA has yet to endorse him for the competition.
However, the Philippine Olympic Committee is giving him their full backing.