FILE – The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes in the men’s pole vault event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at The Louis II Stadium in Monaco on August 14, 2020. (Photo by Valery HACHE / POOL / AFP)
Jumping from one tournament to another in less than 24 hours, EJ Obiena winding up fourth against the best vaulters in the world is quite understandable.
Obiena saw the bronze medal slip away in the men’s pole vault of the International Stadionfest (ISTAF) in Berlin, Germany on Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila) after the Filipino was able to clear 5.81 meters on his third attempt.
American KC Lightfoot completed the United States medal sweep by securing third place via countback, hurdling the same height just on his initial try.
Americans Sam Kendricks and Christopher Nilsen both soared over 5.91m to clinch the gold and silver, respectively.
Obiena cleared 5.93m at the 2021 International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria, setting a new Asian record that eclipsed the 5.92-meter effort of Igor Potapovich of Kazakhstan in France 1992.
Kendricks, No. 3 in the world, and the second-ranked Nilsen passed up on 5.96m and went for a higher elevation at 6.01m, but both failed.
Kendricks secured the win in the 11-man contest through countback.