Bronze for Obiena

MANILA, Philippines — Tokyo-bound EJ Obiena continued to show he could hang with the big boys of pole vault as he snared a historic bronze medal in the star-studded IAAF World Diamond League Athletic Series in Monaco early yesterday.

The 24-year-old Obiena registered a personal season-best 5.70m to claim the bronze in the event topped by world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who had 6.00m flat.

The reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and record-holder ended up tied for second with Belgian Ben Broeders but the latter got a 5.70m on his first try while Obiena accomplished it on his second attempt.

“I’m proud of my performance but it could have been better,” said Obiena.

Obiena attempted to vault 5.80m but faulted all his three attempts that he later blamed to mental breakdown.

“It wasn’t my day. I faulted a lot. When it mattered, I just broke down mentally. In my mind I could have done 5.80m,” said Obiena.

The effort though was a huge jump from the 5.45m he did in copping the silver in the 13th Triveneto International Meeting in Trieste, Italy last Aug. 3.

Most importantly, Obiena fared better than 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil, the former’s training partner and Trieste meet winner who wound up fifth after clearing only 5.50m.

Interestingly, current world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States entered but withdrew at the last minute because his poles didn’t arrive on time.

After this, Obiena will travel back to Formia, Italy where he is currently training to compete in a virtual competition dubbed “Who is the Finest Pole Vaulter in the World?” against fellow Tokyo qualfiers World No. 8 Pavel Wojciechowski of Poland and World No. 29 Matt Ludwig of the US on Monday (Philippine time).

Athletics chief Philip Juico lauded Obiena’s performance.

“Pretty good after a six-month layoff and a back injury and only one high-level competition prior to the Diamond League,” said Juico.