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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Competing again feels like gold medal for EJ Obiena

Competing again feels like gold medal for EJ Obiena

Published Aug 4, 2020 03:22 pm
Pinoy pole vaulter settles for silver behind Rio Olympics champion
EJ Obiena
Philippines' top pole vaulter EJ Obiena (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP, File)

It may have fallen short of his expectations, but Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena was glad to feel the competitive atmosphere once again after seven long months.

Obiena returned to competition Monday and captured the silver medal in the 13th Triveneto Meet in Trieste, Italy – his first tournament since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila last December.

Obiena, the country’s first qualifier to the Tokyo Games rescheduled next year, cleared the height at 5.45 meters in his second and third attempt to place behind 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil.

Braz, one of Obiena’s training partners in a facility in Formia, leapt 5.50m while Max Mandusic of Italy came in third at 5.35m.

The change of routine from months of pure training has lifted the spirits of Obiena. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has altered the schedule of tournaments across the globe, but some events are slowly returning.

“It was definitely fun,” Obiena told the Manila Bulletin. “Adrenaline finally kicked in and the feeling of competition is finally here again.”

Obiena said it wasn’t the result he hoped for, but was glad to shake off the rust after months of non-competition.

“I would say it isn’t bad, but was expecting for better result,” he said. “I faltered and made a lot of mistakes during the competition.”

Still, it gave him the change to learn from his mistakes as he keeps his sights to the Olympics.

Up next for Obiena is the Virtual Battle of the Finest Pole Vaulter on Aug. 17 against former World Champion Pawel Wojciechowski of Poland and Matt Ludwig of the United States.

Related Tags

Trieste Thiago Braz 13th Triveneto Meet pole vault EJ Obiena athletics
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