Obiena outclasses crack field

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino pole vault ace EJ Obiena outclassed a star-studded field as he delivered a personal season best for a sensational triumph in the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czech Republic Tuesday night.

Up against the very best the pole vault world can offer, Obiena rose above the challenge, clearing 5.74 meters to register what’s easily the biggest accomplishment in his career.

It was quite a feat with the 24-year-old Filipino ace besting the cream of the crop in the sport.

The field included Rio Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil, former world record holder and 2016 Rio silver medalist Renaud Lavillenie of France, and 2017 and 2019 world champion and Rio bronze medalist Sam Kendricks of the United States.

Lavillenie also did 5.74m but settled for second-place finish via countback while Kendricks bagged the bronze at 5.64m

Braz, Obiena’s training partner in Formia, Italy, was fourth with 5.64m while German Raphael Holzdeppe and Polish Pawel Wojciechowski, who won world titles in 2013 and 2011, were fifth and sixth with 5.54m and 5.34m, respectively.

“Thank you God for the long awaited win. I offer this to Your given grace,” said an ecstatic Obiena, who had a pair of silver and a bronze in five meets since action resumed a month ago.

“Truly grateful for the win against the world’s bests in pole vault. Thank you Philippines, truly proud to represent you,” he added.

No doubt, Obiena’s goal is to sustain momentum in a bid to deliver a first Olympic medal in track and field since Filipino-American Miguel White copped a bronze in the 400m hurdles in the 1936 Berlin Games.

While his performance was far from the 5.81m he posted a year ago to qualify for the Tokyo Games, Obiena looked on course to breaching the six-meter mark in the coming meets.

“EJ continues to compete against the world’s best and is on track to surpass his personal best and he’s making a few adjustments,” said athletics chief Philip Ella Juico.