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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Obiena shatters national, Asian marks in Norway tilt

Obiena shatters national, Asian marks in Norway tilt

Published Jun 10, 2023 04:01 pm
EJ Obiena bolstered his bid for a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics after resetting his national and Asian outdoor records in the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway Saturday, June 10.

*EJ Obiena becomes the 28th pole vaulter to clear at least 6.00 meters. (File Photo)

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The world No. 3 pole vaulter cleared 6.00m on his first attempt to capture the gold medal and edge Americans KC Lightfoot and two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, who settled for silver and bronze, respectively. Obiena and Lightfoot actually registered the same height but the 27-year-old Tondo native clinched the gold via countback. Kendricks, for his part, finished third with 5.88m. Obiena's feat shattered his national and Asian mark of 5.94m in 2022 where he clinched the historic bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He also became the 28thpole vaulter to clear at least 6.00m, joining the elite cast composed of world record holder and reigning Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis of Sweden (6.22m), Hall of Famer Sergey Bubka (6.15m), 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil (6.03m), Lightfoot (6.07m) and Kendricks (6.06m). "It took a few moments to sink in. But when it did, tears began to fall, there was no greater shoulder to cry on than my coach, Vitaliy. Couldn’t have done it without you," Obiena posted on social media shortly after his victory, referring to his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. This was the second outdoor tournament for Obiena since winning the gold medal, also in record-breaking fashion, at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last month where he made 5.65m. He was coming off a bronze-medal finish at the 5th Irena Szewinska Memorial in Poland a few days back, where he posted 5.72m. Obiena is gearing up to earn another shot at the Olympics when the qualification period starts on July 1. The entry standard to make it to the Paris Games is 5.82m. Up next for Obiena will be the Bislett Games on June 15 also in Norway.

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