EJ Obiena wins bronze in Norway to stretch medal streak

FILE– Philippines’ pole vaulter EJ Obiena. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena continued to add to his collection after snagging bronze in the Oslo Bislett Games in Norway on Friday.

Obiena tallied 5.61m, 5.71m and 5.81m in his first three attempts before tallying his final jump at 5.91m. The Southeast Asian Games gold medalist then tallied back-to-back fouls which made him settle for bronze.

Obiena’s rival Armand Duplantis of Sweden reigned supreme in the tournament after registering a jump of 6.01m.

The United States’ Chris Nilsen completed the podium with the silver medal with 5.91m.

Following the Norway competition, Obiena has won four medals in as many outings this year.

This came a few days after Obiena made history by resetting the Asian record of clearing the six-meter line in the Bergen Jump Challenge at the same venue on Sunday (Manila time).

Obiena erased his previous career-best of 5.94m. 

Next up for the Tokyo Olympian is the Ostrava Golden Spike in Czech Republic, next week.