Obiena vaults to season-best mark but falls short of podium
MANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena had sputtered at the lowest of lows in the last two years due to various injuries and almost forgotten he was once No. 2 in the world and cleared a personal-best 6.00 meters.
On Sunday in the Greek capital, the Filipino Asian and Southeast Asian champion gave a glimpse of how capable he could be after posting a season-best 5.81 meters in the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault.
That clearance sent the Tondo, Manila native into a five-man logjam for third place alongside Greek Emmanouil Karalis, Dutchman Menno Vloon, Turk Ersu Sasma and Frenchman Baptiste Thiery.
But Obiena wound up at No. 4 while Karalis, an Olympic bronze medalist with whom the former was training with under new coach — Pole Marcin Szczepanski — in Athens, seized the bronze after countback.
Olympic and World Championship silver winner Chris Nilsen of the United States struck gold after he edged France’s Thibaut Collet, who also had a 5.91m and settled with the silver, via countback.
It was the best performance by Obiena for the year after he had a 5.78m in the ISTAF Indoor meet in Berlin, Germany last March.
His best effort in the outdoor season came just a few days ago when he had a 5.75m in Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt where he also ended up capturing the gold.
But between Eisestadt and Athens, Obiena should choose the latter anytime.
“I have not seen you at the 5.80m bar in a while, I have missed you,” said Obiena on social media. “Step in the right direction and onto the next.”
But of course, Obiena — currently the World No. 14 but is eager to climb back to his old place somewhere near the top — would have preferred going home with a medal.
On this day though, he would accept all improvements he could muster as he thread his way back where he came from two years ago.
Step by step, he is getting there.
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