EJ Obiena sets new Asian record, wins gold in Austria
FILE – The Philippines’ 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)
MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena outdid himself yet again in bagging the gold medal in the Golden Roof Challenge Sunday (Manila time) in Innsbruck, Austria.
With the gold already in the bag after soaring to 5.80m, the Filipino world No. 5 kept going en route to setting a new Asian pole vault record with a 5.93m clearance on his third and last try.
“I wanted this so bad,” Obiena said shortly after the jump that also set the national standard.
“I couldn’t have done it without all of you guys,” he added, addressing the packed crowd.
The 25-year-old Obiena broke the previous record of 5.92m by Igor Potapovich of Kazakhstan 29 years ago.
Obiena’s previous best was 5.91m which he set two weeks ago in the Paris Diamond League where he claimed the silver medal.
The Tokyo Olympian was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Diamond League final in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday.
