Obiena soars past Nilsen

Pinoy secures gold in Germany

MANILA, Philippines — In the absence of the world’s top pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis, World Championship bronze medalist EJ Obiena was presented the chance to beat world No. 2 Chris Nilsen of the United States.

Obiena, the world No. 3 and Asian record-holder, did just that as he blew away the field that included Nilsen in the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany yesterday.

The Southeast Asian Games gold winner vaulted to 5.81 meters to capture the mint ahead of Nilsen, the World Championships and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist.

Nilsen settled for the silver while Australian Kurist Marschall and German Bo Kanda Luta Baehre shared the bronze after winding up with identical 5.71m.

Obiena went for a new Asian record and personal best of 5.95m but failed in three attempts.

While his winning effort was far from his career best 5.94m that he set in the world tilt in Eugene, Oregon last month, it was enough to secure the Filipino a spot in next year’s World Championships in Hungary.

It was also a nice way to jumpstart Obiena’s campaign in the second part of the European circuit.

“Great start for the second part of the season. We got the gold and then got the standard for next year’s World Champs in Hungary,” said Obiena.

He has six more competitions lined up including the Athletissima slated tomorrow in Lausanne, Switzerland and the True Athletics Classic set in Leverkusen, Germany on Saturday.

Obiena will also compete in the St. Wendel City Jump in Germany on Aug. 31, Memorial van Damme in Brussels, Belgium on Sept. 2, ISTAF 2022 in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 4, and Golden Fly in Schaan, Liechtenstein on Sept. 11.