Southeast Asian Games – Athletics – Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 8, 2023 Philippines’ EJ Obiena reacts during the men’s pole vault REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
PHNOM PENH—EJ Obiena broke his own Southeast Asian Games record thrice and claimed the gold medal, as expected, in the men’s pole vault under intermittent rains at the Morodok National Stadium here.
Obiena, the world’s No. 3 vaulter, erased the standard of 5.46 meters that he established in the Hanoi Games last year with a 5.65m jump.
Recuperating from a left foot injury the 27-year-old suffered last week, Obiena pushed himself in clearing 5.55m and 5.60m before settling with his final attempt.
WATCH: EJ Obiena's 5.65 jump is a new SEA Games record. #SEAGames2023 | @junavINQ pic.twitter.com/lfifZ9itoJ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) May 8, 2023
“It’s not my first time to compete in the rain. We don’t like it, but it happens,’’ said Obiena, whose performance came as a prelude to a long outdoor season where the Filipino pole vault will be looking to qualify in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“This is tough, this is a different kind of challenge for sure,’’ added Obiena as Filipino fans patiently waited for nearly four hours just to cheer him on.
The Italy-based Obiena needs to clear 5.82m to qualify for the Olympics.
