FILE–Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes during the indoor men’s pole vault Beijer gala event in Uppsala, Sweden, on February 9, 2022. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena redeemed himself with his first win of the year, topping the Orlen Cup in Poland on Saturday.
Obiena cleared a season-best 5.81m on his first try to win the tournament after coming off an eighth-place finish two days ago at the Beijer Stavhoppsgala Uppsala in Sweden.
Brazil’s Thiago Braz, the former Olympic champion, and home bet Piotr Lisek finished second and third, respectively with similar 5.71m clearance.
The 26-year-old Tokyo Olympian attempted to reset the Asian record of 5.93m but he couldn’t soar past 5.95m.
Obiena, who underwent knee surgery last month, had failed to go past 5.70m in his previous two competitions.
Earlier this month, the Tokyo Olympian placed fourth in the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin, Germany.