The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena recently set a new Philippine record in pole vault, earning him the gold medal at the Jump and Fly International Athletics in Mossingen, Germany, which forms part of his preparations for the Olympics.
EJ, the country’s top pole vaulter, soared to 5.85 meters, erasing his own 5.81 mark done in Italy in 2019.
The new Philippine pole vault record vastly improves Obiena’s chances of winning the gold at the Tokyo Olympics next month
Obiena bested Germans Oleg Zernikel and Philip Kass who cleared 5.70m and 5.40m, respectively.
Earlier, the Asian and SEA Games champion placed second at the FBK Games, bested only by Mondo Duplantis of Sweden.
Duplantis, who owns the world record of 6.18m, ruled the meet with 6.10m. Obiena submitted a height of 5.80m which was higher than the others including reigning Olympic champ Thiago Braz of Brazil (5.62).
Obiena flew back to Formia, Italy, where he has been training for the past three years, to improve his performances under the tutelage of coach Vitaly Petrov. He will compete in three more outdoor tournaments before flying to Tokyo.