Pole vaulter EJ Obiena for the Philippines. —AFP
MANILA, Philippines–EJ Obiena erased the men’s pole vault national outdoor record he registered early this month with a silver medal performance in the Irena Szewinska Memorial Bydgoszcz on early Thursday in Poland.
Progressing as the Tokyo Olympics draws near, Obiena’s 5.87-meter jump reset his previous mark of 5.85m during the Jump and Fly competition in Mossinger, Germany two weeks ago.
“It was a battle of athletes from five continents and I managed a second-place finish to break the Philippine national outdoor record for the second time this month,’’ said Obiena.
Olympic-bound Chris Nilsen, the United States champion, topped the tourney by clearing 5.92m while Poland’s Piotr Lisek, who will likewise see action in the Tokyo Summer Games on July 31, placed third (5.82m).
Obiena, the current Asian champion and No. 10 in the world rankings, went for 5.92m, but proved unsuccessful.
He is anticipated to compete next in the Bauhaus-Galan in Stockholm, Sweden, which is part of the Wanda Diamond League.
“I’m grateful but more needs to be done,’’ said the 25-year-old Obiena, seeking to end the search for the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
Defending Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil came in fourth with a 5.82m effort followed by Dominik Alberto of Switzerland (5.65m), Robert Sobera of Poland (5.50m) and Brazil’s Augusto Dutra (5.50m).
Pawel Wojciechowski, the former world champion from Poland, placed eighth with 5.50m.