Hokket de los Santos: his path to SEA Games glory

19-year old pole vaulter Hokket de los Santos put City of Ilagan in SEA Games history after copping the silver medal in the Men’s Pole Vault Competition during the 31st Southeast Asian Games held at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam on May 14, 2022.

Despite failing in his first attempt, de los Santos bounced back with two consecutive successful attempts, clearing 4.80 meters in his second attempt and 5 meters in his final attempt to secure 2nd place.

De los Santos only lost to compatriot and legendary pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, who jumped 5.46 meters to grab the gold medal and break his own SEA Games record.

The pride of the City of Ilagan qualified for the 31st Southeast Asian Games after clearing 5 meters during the 2022 Milo-PATAFA qualifying tournament in Baguio City, Benguet on February 24.

In this tournament, he became the 4th Filipino to break the 5-meter barrier, joining Obiena, Edward Lasquete and Elijah Cole.

His path to SEA Games glory started in 2019 when he reached the podium in four national and international pole vault competitions.

The 14th Southeast Asia Youth Athletics Championship which was held in the City of Ilagan on March 2-3, 2019 was a huge opportunity that he surely did not waste as he bagged the gold medal in boy’s pole vault.

He continued his streak of gold medals in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa by clearing 4.00 meters, 0.40 meters higher than second placer Irhyl Faustino of the National Capital Region.

These tournament victories led him to much more opportunities in pole vault. De los Santos took home the bronze medal in the 2019 ASEAN School Games on July 22, 2019 after vaulting 4.30 meters, behind Muhammed Naufal Afzam of Malaysia and Nakharin Chatpasak of Thailand, who cleared 4.60 meters and 4.40 meters, respectively.

He also finished 3rd place during the PHISGOC Athletics Test Event on October 26, 2019 after clearing 4.80 meters, a clear improvement from his previous performances.

As of today, de los Santos’ personal best is at 5.05 meters, which was done during practice on April 30, 2022.