Travel-weary Obiena finishes just shy of podium this time

Jumping from one tournament to another in less than 24 hours, pole vaulter EJ Obiena barely missed out on another medal after losing in the countback for the bronze on Sunday (Monday in Manila) in the International Stadionfest in Berlin, Germany.

Travel-weary after resetting the Asian record and winning gold in Austria just the day before, Obiena saw the bronze medal slip away with American KC Lightfoot completing a US sweep by securing third place via countback, hurdling 5.81 meters on his initial try.

Obiena, who cleared 5.93m for the Asian record at the 2021 International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck on Saturday, needed three tries to clear the same height.

Americans Sam Kendricks and Christopher Nilsen both soared over 5.91m to clinch the gold and silver, respectively.

Kendricks, ranked third in the world, and the second-ranked Nilsen passed up on 5.96m and went for a higher elevation at 6.01m where they both failed.

Kendricks secured the win in the 11-man contest through countback. INQ