EJ Obiena, shown here during his gold medal leap in the SEA Games in Cambodia last May, is the latest member of the six-meter club. —POC-PSC Media
EJ Obiena achieved a dream hatched years ago after dexterously clearing six meters in a top-caliber tournament in Europe to be in a club very few men are in.
Though that momentous victory at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway should be enough to trigger a celebration, Obiena continues to see it as part of the process he has been preparing himself for.
“Still a lot of work ahead and still a long season. Just happy and proud to be part of the 6m (meters) Club,” said Obiena on a Facebook post where he recounted the journey that started “with a dream to jump over 5m.”
The Filipino set new Asian and Philippine records, something that Obiena has repeatedly broken numerous times since setting up camp in Formia, Italy, nearly a decade ago.
Obiena erased a career-best 5.94 m in a bronze-medal performance during the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last year.
“It all started with a dream to jump over 5m and set the national record to now become the 24th person all-time to go over the 6m barrier and the first-ever Asian/Filipino,” said Obiena.
The world’s No. 3 vaulter can now proudly rub elbows with the likes of pole vault icon Sergey Bubka in that exclusive 6m circle along with current Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis.
“While we are all elated with EJ’s 6-meter performance in Norway, we at the Patafa (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) believe that he can do better in the coming months and beyond, knowing what he’s capable of as a world class athlete,” said athletics chief Terry Capistrano.
Obiena shares the proud moment with longtime coach Vitaly Petrov. —EJ OBIENA’S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
“We are happy and proud of EJ for becoming the first Asian athlete to join the 6-meter club in the men’s pole vault. His continuous training and competing abroad under coach Vitaly [Petrov] plus his perseverance can make him even better,” added the Patafa president.
In one go
The 6-foot-2 Obiena cleared the bar with some space to spare, beat his chest with both fists upon landing and rushed to hug coach Petrov tightly.
“It took a few minutes to sink in. But when it did, tears began to fall and there was no greater shoulder to cry on than my coach, Vitaly,” said Obiena.
“Couldn’t have done it without you,” Obiena told the renowned Ukrainian coach.
In breaching the mark, Obiena ended up tied with KC Lightfoot of the United States but ruled the tournament via a count back.
Lightfoot had to clear six meters in two attempts while the Italy-based Obiena needed only a single try.
Sam Kendricks of the United States completed the podium with a 5.88-m jump.
“He (Obiena) is certainly an extremely gifted athlete,” said Capistrano.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in order for him to get to where he should be. He has been working hard and smart to get to 6m,” added Capistrano.
Obiena and Lightfoot raised the bar at 6.06 m, but both were unable to hurdle it.
Duplantis owns the existing world record of 6.23 m and it will be a long way to go for the 27-year-old from Tondo, Manila, to at least match it.
Hurdling six meters, however, has positioned Obiena as a legitimate threat to the world champion. INQ