At A Glance
- The two-time Olympian cleared the bar at 5.74 meters to secure the runner-up honors, finishing behind eventual champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver winner Chris Nilsen.
EJ Obiena. (File Photo)
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena opened his outdoor season in style after capturing the silver medal in the EUROWINGS Flight Circus event in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sunday, June 14.
The two-time Olympian cleared the bar at 5.74 meters to secure the runner-up honors, finishing behind eventual champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver winner Chris Nilsen.
Nilsen claimed the gold in record-breaking fashion, posting 5.83m to eclipse the old meet record of 5.82m set by Dutch Olympian Menno Vloon last year.
Qatar’s Seifeldin Abdelsalam, meanwhile, bagged the bronze with 5.65m
“Battled through some swirling winds, but overall happy with how it all went,” Obiena posted on his social media shortly after the tournament.
Obiena skipped the opening heights of 5.10m and 5.30m by going straight to 5.50m, which he cleared on his attempt
Finding his rhythm, he sailed over 5.65m on his first try before clearing 5.74m after two attempts.
The 30-year-old Tondo native tried 5.83m twice, then mustered all his might at 5.90m, but failed.
This is Obiena’s first tournament since the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland last March, where he finished ninth after posting 5.70m.
Up next for Obiena is the Wanda Diamond League in Doha, Qatar on Friday, June 19.