Obiena soars high again

Filipino ace bags bronze in Poland

MANILA, Philippines — World No. 3 pole-vaulter EJ Obiena fell short in a bid to breach the six-meter plateau but still came through with podium honors in the Silesia Diamond League in Poland over the weekend.

The 26-year-old Asian record-holder cleared 5.73 meters for the bronze medal in the star-studded event topped by world champion and record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who set a new meet mark of 6.10m.

Norwegian Sondre Guttormsen snatched the silver also with 5.73 meters.

Guttormsen claimed first runner-up honors by beating the Filipino star via count back.

Obiena went for 5.83m but failed in three attempts, a slide in the 5.94m he posted in capturing the country’s breakthrough medal – a bronze – in the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon late last month.

Nonetheless, Obiena made heads turn in topping marquee rivals in World Championships and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Christopher Nilsen of the United States and 2016 Rio Games gold winner Thiago Braz of Brazil.

Nilsen finished only fifth with a 5.53m while Braz did not even clear 5.53m in three tries.

Obiena continues to chase the six-meter mark as he competes in another blue-ribbon event in Hungary in a few days.