Obiena fails to reset personal best in another win

The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena gestures in the men’s pole vault final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 24, 2022. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)

Frustration has swept pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena after a missed opportunity to break his own Asian record at the True Athletes Classic 2022 in Leverkusen, Germany.

With victory already in hand, the world’s No. 3 vaulter seemed headed to conquering 5.95 meters, only to falter thrice.

“I am very happy to bring home the gold against a great field. But, on the other hand, I am frustrated after missing 5.95m again,’’ said Obiena after seizing another gold medal in a span of five days.

The Filipino vault star recently reset his personal best by clearing 5.94m—the current Asian standard—with a historic bronze performance at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last month.

“We have boiled it down to some technical adaptations, which at these heights make the difference between a miss or a make,’’ said Obiena.

He hurdled 5.81 meters on his second attempt and yet it was Obiena’s perfect try in clearing 5.63 meters once that clinched for him the Leverkusen title.

Rutgar Koppelaar of the Netherlands and Kurtis Marschall of Australia likewise cleared 5.81m on their second tries. Both, however, needed to conquer their previous vaults at a lower height more than once.

“Like anything in life, this is all about continual improvement,’’ said Obiena.

Obiena’s victory duplicated his golden feat in the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany, last week.

The Filipino athletics star recently placed third in the Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland, and previously earned a similar result in the Silesia leg of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League following his success in the world championships.

Up next for Obiena is the St. Wendel City Jump in Germany where he aims again to go over the 5.95m mark.

Three more high-level meets await Obiena—the Memorial van Damme in Brussels, Belgium, on Sept. 2, ISTAF Berlin on Sept. 4 and the Golden Fly in Liechtenstein on Sept. 11—before wrapping up his 2022 season. INQ