Obiena retains Asian title
Published Jul 16, 2023 12:42 pm
World-class pole vaulter EJ Obiena showed he was cut above the rest after dominating the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday, July 16.
The Tokyo Olympian and Southeast Asian Games champion cleared 5.91 meters to retain the gold medal he won in the 2019 Doha edition. He also eclipsed the tournament record of 5.71m he set in 2019. Saudi Arabia’s Hussain Asim Alhizam finished at far second with 5.56m while China’s Huang Bokai bagged the bronze with 5.51m. Obiena hardly broke a sweat in the 12-player field, skipping heights in 4.61m, 4.81m, 5.01m, 5.16m, 5.31m and 5.41m before clearing 5.51m with ease on his first attempt. During this time, seven athletes were already out of contention. The Tondo native, who already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, then skipped 5.56m and 5.61m before clearing 5.66m. He had already secured the gold by that time, as Asim Alhizam and Huang were already unsuccessful in clearing 5.61m. But that didn’t stop Obiena to reach greater heights as he cleared 5.80m before briefly stumbling at 5.91m – needing two tries to complete the height. He aimed to eclipse his national and Asian record of 6.00m by trying 6.02m but failed. Since winning the 32ndSEAG in Cambodia last May, Obiena hasn’t missed the podium in his next eight events. In other events, Kristina Knott missed the podium after landing fourth in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.39 seconds. Singapore’s Shanti Pereira bagged the gold in 22.70sec, while India’s Jyothi Yarrahi (23.13sec) and China’s Li Yuting clinched the bronze (23.25sec). Sonny Wagdos could also manage at 15thplace in the men’s 5000m in 15:37.57 – a far cry from eventual gold medalist Hyuga Endo of Japan, who clocked 13:34.94. The men’s 4x400m of Umajesty Williams, Michael Del Prado, Joyme Sequita and Frederick Ramirez also settled for sixth in 3:06.47. Overall, the PH team managed with two gold medals. The other gold medal came from Robyn Brown in the women’s 400m hurdles last Saturday, July 15.
*EJ Obiena captures the gold medal in the Asian Athletics Championships. (File Photo)
*The Tokyo Olympian and Southeast Asian Games champion cleared 5.91 meters to retain the gold medal he won in the 2019 Doha edition. He also eclipsed the tournament record of 5.71m he set in 2019. Saudi Arabia’s Hussain Asim Alhizam finished at far second with 5.56m while China’s Huang Bokai bagged the bronze with 5.51m. Obiena hardly broke a sweat in the 12-player field, skipping heights in 4.61m, 4.81m, 5.01m, 5.16m, 5.31m and 5.41m before clearing 5.51m with ease on his first attempt. During this time, seven athletes were already out of contention. The Tondo native, who already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, then skipped 5.56m and 5.61m before clearing 5.66m. He had already secured the gold by that time, as Asim Alhizam and Huang were already unsuccessful in clearing 5.61m. But that didn’t stop Obiena to reach greater heights as he cleared 5.80m before briefly stumbling at 5.91m – needing two tries to complete the height. He aimed to eclipse his national and Asian record of 6.00m by trying 6.02m but failed. Since winning the 32ndSEAG in Cambodia last May, Obiena hasn’t missed the podium in his next eight events. In other events, Kristina Knott missed the podium after landing fourth in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.39 seconds. Singapore’s Shanti Pereira bagged the gold in 22.70sec, while India’s Jyothi Yarrahi (23.13sec) and China’s Li Yuting clinched the bronze (23.25sec). Sonny Wagdos could also manage at 15thplace in the men’s 5000m in 15:37.57 – a far cry from eventual gold medalist Hyuga Endo of Japan, who clocked 13:34.94. The men’s 4x400m of Umajesty Williams, Michael Del Prado, Joyme Sequita and Frederick Ramirez also settled for sixth in 3:06.47. Overall, the PH team managed with two gold medals. The other gold medal came from Robyn Brown in the women’s 400m hurdles last Saturday, July 15.