The Philippines’ champion Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has won his first pole vault title this season at the Orlen Cup in Łódź, Poland.
The Asian pole vault record-holder cleared 5.81 meters on his first attempt earlier today, February 12 (February 11 Poland Time) to secure a first-place finish against the world’s best athletes.
EJ Obiena bested the 5.71 meters cleared by Olympic gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil (2nd) and hometown bet Piotr Lisek of Poland (3rd).
The 26-year-old Filipino athlete first cleared 5.51m and 5.71m before achieving the winning 5. 81m, his season-best jump.
The Orlen Cup gold improves EJ Obiena’s 2021 silver performance which reset the Philippines’ indoor pole vault record and his own personal best to 5.86 meters.
After the momentary pause in his activities and receiving offers from other countries to represent them, Obiena has decided to continue carrying the Philippines’ flag in competitions and opened the 2022 season in February at the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin, Germany, where he finished in 4th place. At the International Pole Vault Invitational Beijier Pole Vault Gala in Uppsala, Sweden, Obiena finished in 8th spot.
The Filipino pride in pole vaulting was ranked 3rd World Top Pole Vaulter after his spectacular 2021 season where he surpassed the Philippine National Outdoor Record and his personal best three times – 5.85m set in Germany, to 5.87m set in Poland, to 5.91m set in Paris, and his historic leap of 5.93 meters in Austria which broke the Asian record of 5.92m held by Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich for 23 years.
Obiena still has two competitions in February:
- February 17, Meeting Hauts-De-France – Lievin, France
- February 22, ORLEN Copernicus Cup – Torun, Poland
SEND CHEERS AND WELL WISHES to EJ Obiena as he competes as the Philippines’ champion pole vaulter in European competitions!
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