Obiena rules ISTAF Berlin with 5.82m

MANILA, Philippines — Asian pole vault champion EJ Obiena captured his ninth gold medal of the year after ruling the ISTAF Berlin with a 5.82-meter clearance at the Olympiastadion in Germany on Sunday.

It was the fourth victory in Berlin for the 30-year-old native of Tondo, Manila, following his indoor win last March, an outdoor title three years ago, and another indoor crown the year after.

Obiena attempted 5.97 meters three times that would have secured a spot in the World Athletics Ultimate Championship set Sept. 11-13 in Budapest, Hungary, and would have marked his best effort this season, but missed.

He vowed to go for the mark in his next meet in Brussels, Belgium, which could be his last competition before the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan starting Sept. 20.

Obiena is coming off a 5.90-meter clearance in Zurich, Switzerland a few days ago that booked him a ticket to the World Championships.

Though just short of his season-best 5.91 meters in Miedzyzdroje, Poland two weeks ago, Obiena is showing signs of peaking as he looks to reclaim his former World No. 2 ranking from two years ago.