CAPAS, Tarlac — Alyana Nicolas is setting her sights on the gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after a superb showing in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships over the weekend.

Nicolas swears she felt great during the annual athletics meet and believes she has more in her tank to pull off the feat.

“Actually, throughout the season, I’m just so proud of myself for finally getting back to the four-meter mark,” Nicolas said.

“I know there’s still a lot left in me, so I’m really looking forward to the rest of my season.”

‘I definitely am pretty confident I can get it. I just took a lot of jumps today, and I’m just getting used to the heat again, and the humidity. But yeah, I’m pretty proud of myself.’

The 30-year-old Nicolas won her second gold medal in the Philippine Athletics Championships after clearing four meters here at the New Clark City Stadium.

The last time the Philippines won a gold medal in the women’s pole vault was back in 2019 when Natalie Uy tallied a SEA Games record of 4.25m in the same Tarlac venue.

Nicolas also grabbed bronze medal in the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi where she finished with 3.60m.

Nicolas is also honing her skills in the hopes of competing in the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Pole Vault Challenge on Tuesday at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

The goal? Make the 4.10m standard and qualify for the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea from 27 to 31 May.

“I definitely am pretty confident I can get it. I just took a lot of jumps today, and I’m just getting used to the heat again, and the humidity. But yeah, I’m pretty proud of myself.”

“I’m going to compete again on Tuesday, and then I’m going to go back to the States. There’s still going to be a couple more weeks.”