Obiena shatters indoor record


Olympic-bound pole vaulter EJ Obiena eclipsed his own national indoor record early Saturday at the Karlsruhe World Indoor Tour Meeting in Germany.

Obiena cleared 5.62 meters to finish fifth in the field of 10 athletes, surpassing his PH mark of 5.43m he posted at the 18th International Pole Vault Meeting in Potsdam, Germany in 2017.

The 25-year-old PH bet attempted to clear 5.72m but failed.

Two-time Olympic medalist Renaud Lavillenie of France captured the gold medal with 5.95m, while United States’ Matt Ludwig and Cole Walsh settled for silver and bronze with 5.80m and 5.72m, respectively.

Germany’s Toben Blech came in fourth with 5.72m.

Obiena is expected to be busy in the indoor season as part of his preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics set late July.

He has been training extensively under Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov in Italy.