Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena, the accomplished Filipino pole vaulter, once again showcased his dominance in Asia by successfully defending his championship title at the Asian Athletics Championships.

The event, held on July 16 at the Suphachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, witnessed Obiena’s remarkable performance.

In the pole vault competition, Obiena soared to new heights, securing the gold medal while setting a fresh meet record of 5.91 meters. With his jumps commencing at 5.51 meters, Obiena flawlessly cleared heights of 5.56 and 5.80 meters. Subsequently, he surpassed the 5.71-meter mark, matching his record-breaking jump from the 2019 edition of the tournament in Doha, where he initially emerged as the victor.

Although Obiena made valiant attempts to achieve a new Asian and personal record of 6.02 meters, he was unsuccessful after three tries. Nonetheless, his outstanding performance earned him the top spot on the podium, solidifying his position as a formidable pole vaulter.

Hussein Asim Alhizam from Saudi Arabia secured the silver medal with a jump of 5.56 meters, while Bokai Huang from China settled for the bronze medal with a jump of 5.51 meters.

This victory marks Obiena’s third gold medal in the outdoor season this year. He initiated his winning streak with a gold medal at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in May, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he set a new meet standard of 5.65 meters. Furthermore, he attained another gold medal by establishing a new Asian record of 6.0 meters at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on June 10.

Throughout the season, Obiena’s performances have been consistently impressive. Since the SEA Games, he has maintained a streak of podium finishes, including a bronze medal at the Memorial Irena Szewinska in Bydgoszcz, Poland on June 7, where he jumped 5.72 meters. Subsequently, he set the new Asian record at the Bergen Jump Challenge and secured a bronze medal with a jump of 5.81 meters at the Oslo Diamond League-Bislett Games in Norway on June 16.

Continuing his successful run, Obiena claimed a bronze medal with a jump of 5.90 meters at the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic on June 28. He then achieved a silver medal with a clearance of 5.82 meters at the Bauhaus-Galan on July 3 in Sweden, which also earned him a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Additionally, Obiena attained another silver medal with a jump of 5.72 meters at the Meeting International de Sotteville in France on July 8 before his triumphant performance at the Asian Athletics Championships.

Obiena’s exceptional achievements not only highlight his remarkable talent and consistency in pole vaulting but also establish him as a prominent figure in the sport.

(ai/mnm)