Obiena silver a good start to busy year

EJ Obiena. AFP Photo

EJ Obiena kicked off his indoor season with a silver medal in Cottbus, Germany, last week, but even with that modest haul after failing to clear a distance he has done so many times in the past, great things are expected of Asia’s premier pole vaulter for the rest of the year, starting with the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor in Metz, France, this week.

“It’s just the start of the indoor season. Every vaulter naturally goes through a period of adjustment as the season progresses,’’ said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano.

Ranked fourth in the world, Obiena failed in three tries at 5.75 meters, but it shouldn’t really be a cause for concern.

Second via countback

The two-time Olympian and 2023 world championship silver medalist was good for 5.65 m at the International Jump Meeting at Lausitz-Arena in Cottbus last week, to finish second behind Paris Olympics silver medalist Sam Kendrick.

Germany’s Bo Kanda Lita Baehre placed third and Belgium’s Ben Broeders missed the podium at fourth, as both also cleared 5.65 only for the Filipino to win via countback.

“These are just technical adjustments and also due to the 16- versus 20-step approach,’’ said Obiena’s adviser Jim Lafferty, pointing out that the 6-foot-2 Obiena’s approach was restricted to 16 steps due to the shorter track.