MANILA, Philippines — World No. 3 Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena settled for a silver medal when his attempts for a new record and another golden effort fell short in yesterday’s ISTAF 2022 in Berlin, Germany.
Following a 5.88-meter clearance by Menno Vloon on the Dutch’s first try, the World Championship bronze medalist went for 5.95m that would have eclipsed the old Asian record of 5.94m that he owns.
The reigning Southeast Asian Games champion, however, misfired in three attempts and settled for the silver with a 5.81m.
Vloon took the gold while Austrian Kurtis Marschall the bronze with a 5.81m.
The setback ended Obiena’s string of four victories in the last couple of weeks, highlighted by his shock, breakthrough conquest of world and Olympic champion and world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden in the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium last Saturday.
However, it was Obiena’s sixth straight podium finish in the circuit that is nearing its season end.
His other victories came in the Stabhochsprung meet last Aug. 23 in Jockgrim, True Athletes Classics last Aug. 28 in Leverkusen and St. Wendel City Jump last Aug. 31 in Sankt Wendel, all in Germany.