Obiena third behind Duplantis, Kendricks

MANILA, Philippines — Asian pole-vault king EJ Obiena has been patiently waiting for his chance to beat world No. 1 Armand Duplantis once more.

But on Friday in the Memorial Van Damme Wanda Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, the Swedish colossus didn’t give Obiena that opportunity by snaring the gold with a spectacular 6.10 meters.

Duplantis’ magnificence resulted with his old meet mark of 6.05m being rearranged.

The world No. 3 and Asian record-holder from the Philippines wasn’t bad though as he took the bronze with a 5.92m for his third straight podium finish that buried a horrendous 10th-place effort in the Zurich leg a week ago.

He struck gold in ISTAF in Berlin and Aachen, Germany both in 5.92m in the days leading to Brussels.

American Sam Kendricks snatched the silver also with 5.92m after he beat Obiena via count back.

While it’s as rare as a lunar eclipse, Obiena has pulled the rug from under Duplantis twice – in the Wanda Diamond League’s Monaco leg last July and in this same leg last year.

Obiena, who is competing in another Wanda Diamond League leg in Eugene, Oregon next week before flying to Hangzhou, China for the Asian Games late this month, isn’t giving up.

“Definitely lots of things to work on,” said Obiena in his regular social media posts.