Caleb Monticalvo
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Gold at SEA Games Pole Vault possible as 5.03m Fil-Heritage Vaulter emerges. (Jul 16, 2013)
Article by Pirie Enzo
Pinoyathletics.com has spread awareness not just to the Filipino Athletic community but to Filipino communities living around the world. Millions of Filipinos living overseas can benefit from the facilities and well-structured programs of various countries. One of the latest Fil-Heritage finds to contact me was a fellow by the name of Caleb Monticalvo. If it wasn’t for the site we may not have found Caleb. As he is one of the few who does not have ‘Facebook’.
youtube=http://youtu.be/sq_wbjflnW4
Origins
Caleb Monticalvo was born on the 28th of July 1989. Caleb’s father is Filipino and his mother is Italian. His father was the only one of the siblings born in the United States and his grandmother holds duel-citizenship and hails from Antique in the Western Visayas. His hometown is Escondido and he attended Orange Coast College (high school) before moving on to California State Stanislaus (University) in Los Angeles.
National Record but not yet
What makes Caleb unique is that he has already exceeded a standing national record, Caleb’s best leap of 5.03m set when he won the CCAA Track and Field Champs in the NCAA Div 2 on 3rd May 2012. This record is ahead of current holder Fil-Heritage athlete Edward Lasquette from San Diego who leaped 5.00m and went on to win three consecutive sea games in 1993,1995,1997 and represent the Philippines at the Barcelona Olympics.
Unfortunately, as Caleb did not yet hold a Filipino passport his 5.03m is not eligible for the record. However, he is working on acquiring a Filipino passport which was the criteria set out for the PATAFA, and as soon as he is eligible for the record and to represent the Philippines if he can show consistency.
It is almost certain that the Filipino National Record will disappear at some stage in the next few months when the US Collegiate season starts in November and goes until May.
Two Fil-Heritage Vaulters beat the Bronze Medal standard for SEA Games
Continuing the proud tradition of Fil-Heritage Pole Vaulters left by Edward Lasquette we now have not only one but two Vaulters who have far exceeded the SEA Games bronze medal standard of 4.70m. Monticalvo joins Julio Alorro (read about him here) in contention for the SEA Games medals next year in Myanmar. The two will again have to prove themselves at the Philippine National Games at the end of May next year.
The last SEA Games was won by Kreetha Sintawacheewa of Thailand in 5.10m, with Sompong Saombunka his teammate taking silver in 5.00m. Third was a distance behind 4.70m which became the SEA Games Bronze Medal standard. This year Kreetha equaled 5.10m in Busan topping the SEA Ranking Lists for 2012.
These lists had been compiled by Mr. Jad Adrian Washif of Malaysia, he has not yet included the discoveries for the Philippines. However, the next ranked athlete is the Vietnamese Vaulter whose best leap is 4.85m (PB). This ranks Caleb (5.03m) second and Alorro (4.91m) third on the 2012 Ranking Lists.
Also, note that Sompong of Thailand has not registered a jump. Caleb and Alorro are definitely in contention for the medals at SEA Games. It is even not too far-fetched now to say that Caleb could be an outside chance of winning the gold and causing an upset over Kreetha if he has a bad day or gets injured before the event.
One thing is for certain the Thais will not expect such a strong challenge from a new breed of Filipino Pole Vaulters.
Top Pole Vaulter Caleb Monticalvo registered a leap of 4.64m at the American River Invite in Los Angeles. Caleb has the best leap of 5.03 and season best of 4.92m.
Monticalvo surpasses the Filipino Record in Pole Vault (Apr 15)
Fil-Heritage athlete Caleb Monticalvo soared to a new personal best on Saturday 14/04/13 vaulting 5.05m. At the Chico Distance and Twilight Carnival in California. The performance is the second time he has exceeded the standing national record of 1991,1993,1995 SEA Games Champion and 1996 Olympian Edward Lasquete.
However, recognition of the record is pending awaiting submission of the Philippine Passport which Caleb is now processing.
Regardless it is good to see the strong legacy of Pole Vaulting paved by legendary athletes such as Edward Lasquette continuing in the country with new names arising. Monticalvo whose father is Filipino and mother is Italian hails from San Jose, California.
Monticalvo ironically also hails from California as his hometown is San Diego.
On Saturday he took out the ‘John Lipsey Pole Vault’ event with second well-beaten with 4.72m. It was the second time Monticalvo has exceeded the Filipino National Record his previous best of 5.03m done at the CCAA Champs last May, ranking him second in SEA behind SEA Games Champion Kreetha Sintacheewa of Thailand last year.
Kreetha of Thailand with a personal best of the 5.24m is the man to beat at the SEA Games, with Iskandar Alwi of Malaysia at 5.01m also in medal contention. It will be an exciting competition at the National Games with Monticalvo, and fellow vaulter. Fil-Heritage Alorro led a cast of around 16 vaulters in the men’s division at the National Games.
Monticalvo and Fil-Heritage athletes lead the charge to PNG (Mar 28)
Caleb Monticalvo improved his season’s best to 4.92m. The performance is just 11cm away from his best. Caleb who has now submitted his passport to PATAFA is eligible for future national records. His best of 5.03 exceeds the standing 5.00m national record of Olympian Ed Lasquette.
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