Filipino pole vault champion Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has just claimed his second straight gold medal of the year during the men’s pole vault event of the PSD Bank Indoor Meeting in Dortmund, Germany.
The Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena bagged his first gold medal of the season in the ISTAF (Internationales Stadionfest) Indoor athletics meet in Berlin, defeating host country bets Torben Blech and Oleg Zernikel during the tournament held in the Mercedes-Benz Arena on February 5, 2021 (February 6, Manila time).
Obiena cleared a height of 5.80 meters in the men’s pole vault final in Berlin to claim a new Philippine national indoor mark that he himself set at 5.62 meters in the Karlsruhe indoor meet in January.
“An unexpected, surreal, pleasant, wonderful, surprise. So grateful for this win!” EJ Obiena wrote on his Facebook account.
Obiena afterward went on to claim another gold finish in the PSD Bank Indoor Meeting in Helmut Kornig Hall, Dortmund, Germany held late Sunday, February 7.
The Philippines’ top pole vaulter defeated six other athletes in his third indoor tournament this year, posting a 5.68-meter jump this time over rivals Zernikel and Blech who took second and third place, respectively.
EJ Obiena is the Philippines’ first Tokyo Olympics qualifier and will be part of the delegation to the previously postponed 2021 Tokyo Olympics set in July. Also qualified for the Summer Games are boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, and gymnast Carlos Yulo.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the Philippines’ top pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for bagging two straight gold medals of the season in Germany and WATCH his record-breaking 5.80 meter jump in Berlin here!
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