Philippines’ EJ Obiena. —AFP FILE PHOTO
EJ Obiena kicked off his indoor season campaign in triumph by ruling the Memorial Josip Gasparac on Wednesday in Osijek, Croatia.
The world’s No. 2 pole vaulter cleared 5.83 meters in his victory warmup for the coming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Indoor season [has] finally kicked off. 5.83 for the win here,’’ Obiena posted on his Instagram.
READ: EJ Obiena wins gold in Croatia to begin 2024 season
Portugal’s Pedro Buaro placed second with 5.73 m and American Olen Tray Oates claimed the bronze medal in 5.61.
Next stop for the Paris Olympics-bound Obiena, the Asian record holder of 6 m, is the Istaf Indoor in Berlin, Germany, on Friday.
The gold medal was EJ Obiena’s first for the year since the Filipino ruled his event in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September last year.
READ: PH hurdler John Tolentino joins EJ Obiena at Worlds
After the Berlin meet, Obiena will fly to the Glasgow tilt scheduled March 1 to March 3, where the top vaulters in the globe led by world champion Armand “Mondo’’ Duplantis of Sweden are expected to compete.