EJ Obiena wins gold in Berlin tilt, breaks own pole vault record

Philippine’s Ernest John Obiena celebrates with the mascot after the Pole Vault Men competition of the ISTAF INDOOR (Internationales Stadionfest) international athletics meeting on February 5, 2021 in Berlin. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / POOL / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena scratched off two achievements in one tiff after he topped the pole vault event of the Internationales Stadionfest Indoor athletics meet at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin Friday.

The Philippine representative to the Tokyo Olympics cleared 5.80 meters to take the gold and, in the process, shattered the previous Philippine record that he himself set just a week prior.

Philippine’s Ernest John Obiena reacts during the Pole Vault Men competition of the ISTAF INDOOR (Internationales Stadionfest) international athletics meeting on February 5, 2021 in Berlin. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / POOL / AFP)

Obiena’s previous national record was 5.62 meters that he recorded in the World Athletics Indoor Tour Leg in Karlsruhe, Germany on January 29.

Germany’s Torben Blech settled for the silver medal in ISTAF Indoor with a 5.80-meter jump, same as Obiena’s but he needed two attempts to clear the height.

Oleg Zernikel, who also hails from Germany, finished at third with a 5.72-meter clearance.

Obiena is one of the four Philippine athletes who have qualified for Tokyo including gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Irish Magno and Eumir Marcial.