EJ Obiena settles for bronze in Poland tilt

FILE — Ernest John Obiena competes in the men’s Pole Vault during the IAAF Diamond League competition on September 17, 2020 at the Olympic stadium in Rome. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena racked up another podium finish in his preparation for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

The Filipino pole vaulter settled for the bronze medal in the 2021 Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland Thursday with a 5.72-meter jump in the final.

This was Obiena’s fourth podium finish this year in a 2021 campaign that saw him win two gold medals, one silver, and in the process set new Philippine record several times.

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Two-time world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States won the gold medal when he jumped the 5.80-meter height while Poland’s Piotr Lisek claimed the silver medal with a 5.72-meter clearance after one attempt.

Obiena’s bronze medal finish was due to him needing two tries to hurdle 5.72 meters.

Both Obiena and Lisek also jumped 5.80 meters but needed three attempts to do so and all three finalists tried to hurdle 5.87 meters but none made it.

“Tough game but thankful for the 5.80m jump on countback,” said Obiena in a Facebook post.

This was the first time in four competitions that Obiena failed to set another Philippine record. The Tokyo-bound Filipino reset the national mark in the Orlen Cup last week with a 5.86-meter clearance.