Roncesvalles, Roxanne S.

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SPORTS

Obiena bags gold, breaks Asian record

Story by Niel Victor C. Masoy

(UPDATE) FILIPINO pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ"

Obiena notched a new Asian indoor record with his second
gold medal victory in the Istaf meet at the Mercedes-Benz
Arena in Berlin on Saturday (Manila time).

The 28-year-old Obiena cleared 5.93 meters, surpassing the

5.92 meters record of Kazakh Igor Potapovich established
in February 1998.

Obiena's previous indoor best was 5.91 meters, established

at the Perche Elite Tour in Rouen, France, in March 2022.

The world's No. 2 pole vaulter who ruled the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Croatia tried to
post a new personal of 6.03 meters but failed in three attempts.

Obiena, who owns the Asian best outdoor record of 6.0 meters clearance, started at 5.56
meters and achieved the feat in just one attempt before skipping 5.66 meters and 5.75 meters.

The pride of Tondo then cleared the 5.82 meters bar, enough for him to claim the gold, after
his closest rival Tray Oates of the United States of America failed to clear the same height.

Oates unsuccessfully used the first of his three attempts at 5.82 meters, then opted to skip it to
use his remaining two attempts at 5.88 meters.

Oates, however, failed, finishing second to Obiena for the second straight time and settling
for silver with his 5.75m clearance.

Robert Sobera of Poland bagged the bronze with 5.66 meters. He tried to clear 5.75 meters
but was unsuccessful.

Obiena, the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympics this year, will next compete
at the World Indoor Championship in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 3.

As a filipino I am proud of Ernest John “EJ” Obiena a Filipino pole Vaulter as he

bring honor to the Philippines as he notched a new asian indoor record with his second gold
medal victory in the ISTAF meet at the Mercedez-Benz Arena in Berlin on Saturday (Manila
time). Obiena cleared a 5.93 meters, surpassing the 5.92 meters record of Kazakh Igor
Potapovich which was established in February 1998. Obiena’s previous indoor best was 5.91
meters established at the Pershe Elite Tour in Rouen, France in March 2022. The world's No.
2 pole vaulter who ruled the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Croatia tried to post a new personal
of 6.03 meters but failed in three attempts. Obiena, who owns the Asian best outdoor record
of 6.0 meters clearance, started at 5.56 meters and achieved the feat in just one attempt before
skipping 5.66 meters and 5.75 meters. The pride of Tondo then cleared the 5.82 meters bar,
enough for him to claim the gold, after his closest rival Tray Oates of the United States of
America failed to clear the same height. Oates unsuccessfully used the first of his three
attempts at 5.82 meters, then opted to skip it to use his remaining two attempts at 5.88 meters.
However, failed and finishing second to Obiena for the second straight time and settling for
silver with his 5.75m clearance, meanwhile Robert Sobera of Poland bagged the bronze with
5.66 meters. He tried to clear 5.75 meters but was unsuccessful.
I’m amazed on EJ Obiena‘s conviction and commitment to the sports that have
been validated multiple times, with his record-breaking performances in his latest
tournaments, beating other veteran pole vaulters. I know that all his achievements came from
his hardship and efforts on trainings, passion and loving to the sports as he bacame the No. 2
Men’s Best Pole Vaulter at the age of 28 year old. To the untrained eye like mine, the way he
launches himself with the pole which I found out is just a light and long stick of reinforced
plastic and pushes with his core to gain the extra height needed to clear the bar is
unimaginable from magic because he makes it look so easy that I feel like I can do it also, it
comes across like a jaw-dropping acrobatics scene from a martial arts movie. It’s enough to
remind anyone witnessing it that usually, sports is truly are an art in itself, and the athletics
are what get us hooked. Therefore, I look forward on what is next in EJ Obiena’s journey as
he is the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympics this year and will compete
next at the World Indoor Championship in Glasglow, Scotland, on March 3 hoping and
wishing him to bring another honor and glory for the country.