Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena nabbed a gold medal at the True Athletes Classics in Germany, his 3rd straight podium finish in one week of competitions in Europe.
EJ Obiena delivered the best performance at the Men’s Pole Vault outdoor event in Leverkusen in a field of 8 of the world’s best athletes.
The Philippines’ champion first cleared 5.63 meters in one attempt, cleared 5.81 meters in two attempts, and aimed though failed to clear 5.95 meters – giving him the edge and the gold medal over fellow competitors Rutgar Koppelaar of the Netherlands and Kurtis Marschall of Australia who also cleared 5.81m in two attempts but faulted in previous vaults and tried to reach the lower height of 5.87m.
The World No. 3 in men’s pole vault was reported by German media as having “swung to great heights in the Manfort stadium” during the competition held on August 28, 2022.
EJ Obiena ruled the #TrueAthletesClassics 2022 in Germany, clearing 5.81m on his 2nd attempt. Watch the gold-winning pole vault here @ejobiena @WorldAthletics https://t.co/xgD5mocRw0 pic.twitter.com/8BIndsTJ1a
— Angie Quadra-Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) August 31, 2022
Obiena had just come from a top 3 finish at the prestigious Lausanne Diamond League, where he was hailed as the “great Filipino hope”.
Prior to the Switzerland World Athletics event, Obiena also won the gold at the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany.
EJ Obiena has held the Asian Record in pole vault since 2021 after breaking the 23-year record held by Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich. The Filipino again reset the Asian standard to 5.94 meters during the Oregon World Championships where he also made a historic first-ever podium finish for the Philippines. He secured another podium finish in the Silesia leg of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League.
The 26-year-old Filipino champion athlete continues his quest for more Philippine medals in the following European tournaments:
- 31/08 St. Wendel, Germany
- 02/09 Brussels, Belgium
- 04/09 Berlin, Germany
- 11/09 Schaan, Liechtenstein
SEND CONGRATULATIONS AND CHEERS in the comments below to EJ Obiena for winning gold at the True Athletes Classics in Germany!
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