JUST IN: The Philippines’ champion pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena picked up the “Finest Pole Vaulter in the World” Silver medal, his third medal in as many events and once again finishing strong in his competitions as he prepares for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Silver finish on August 17, 2020, is Obiena’s 3rd medal of the season, matching his Silver at the 13th Triveneto International Meeting in Trieste, Italy, held on August 1, 2020, with a jump of 5.45 meters.
The 24-year-old Obiena also gave the Philippines its first medal – a bronze – and his current season’s best jump at 5.70 meters at the Diamond League Athletics Meeting held in Monaco on August 15.
The first Filipino Qualifier to the Olympics cleared the height at 5.60 meters on his second attempt for the 2nd-best place finish in his latest competition on the Finest Pole Vaulter.
The Philippines’ national athlete was one of the four Tokyo Olympics-Qualifiers who starred in the “Who’s the Finest Pole Vaulter?” virtual competition that pitted the world’s top pole vaulters whose leaps were streamed live from their training locations.
EJ Obiena, Asia’s top pole vaulter and ranked World No. 16, streamed his leaps from his training camp in Formia, Italy, together with his training partner, reigning Olympic champion and World No. 5 Thiago Braz of Brazil, who eventually picked up the Finest Pole Vaulter event gold with a leap of 5.70m.
Matt Ludwig of the United States performed from Geneva, Ohio, and cleared 5.35m for 3rd place while former world champion Pawel Wojciechowski of Poland came in fourth with 5.20m cleared in Miedzyzdroje, Poland.
EJ Obiena holds the Asian Athletics Championships record after breaking the 26-year-old record with 5.71 meters made on April 21, 2019. He qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a jump of 5.81 made in Italy in 2019.
EJ Obiena is the first Filipino who has been given a scholarship from the International Athletic Association Federation (IAAF).
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to EJ Obiena for his strong Silver Medal finish at the Finest Pole Vaulter in the World competition!
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