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EJ Obiena finishes behind world record holder Armand Duplantis in prestigious Dutch meet

Sports

EJ Obiena finishes behind world record holder Armand Duplantis in prestigious Dutch meet

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

Screen grab from World Athletics YouTube page

EJ Obiena showed why he’s one of the best pole vaulters across the globe after clinching the silver medal behind world record holder Armand Duplantis in the prestigious FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands late Sunday.

Obiena, who is in the final stages of his Tokyo Olympics preparations, cleared the bar at 5.80 meters to settle behind Duplantis’ 6.10m feat in the tournament considered as a gold standard in the World Athletics Continental Tour.

The 25-year-old Tondo native attempted 5.86m to eclipse his personal outdoor best of 5.81m, but failed.

Still, his performance improved his season best after registering 5.70m in a gold-medal feat at the Gothenburg Grand Prix in Sweden last Wednesday.

This was Obiena's second outdoor tournament as he gears up for the Olympics scheduled July 23 to Aug. 8.

Meanwhile, Duplantis became the first pole vaulter to clear 6 meters in this Olympic year. The 21-year-old Swedish superstar tried to surpass his world outdoor record of 6.15m by attempting 6.19m, but failed.

Home crowd bet Menno Vloom, who will also see action in the Tokyo Games, posted 5.80m but took home the bronze via countback.

Another Dutch in Rutger Koppelaar finished fourth with 5.62m while reigning Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil came in fifth with 5.62m.

Rounding up the finishers were Olympic-bound Ben Broeders of Belgium with a season-best 5.62m, American Cole Walsh (5.50m) and Sweden’s Pal Haugen Lillefosse (5.30m).

Related Tags

FBK Games Thiago Braz Armand Duplantis EJ Obiena Tokyo Olympics

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