By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Two golds in three events in less than a week – very impressive.
And that’s EJ Obiena, the country’s pole vaulting superstar.
The world No. 3 Obiena bagged his second gold for the week by topping True Athletics Classics in Leverkusen, Germany Sunday night, Aug. 28.
He topped the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim also in Germany on Aug. 23 before settling for a bronze medal three days after at the Athletissima meet in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This time the count back rule favored Obiena as he beat out Rutger Koppelaar of the Netherlands and Kurtis Marschall of Australia after they all soared over 5.81 meters.
Koppelaar bagged the silver while Marschall clinched the bronze.
Obiena attempted 5.95m to erase his national and Asian record but failed.
Still he was contented with his gold medal feat.
“I am very happy to bring home the gold against a great field. But on the other hand, I am frustrated by missing 5.95m again,” Obiena posted on his social media.
“We have boiled it down to some technical adaptations, which at these heights make the difference between a miss or a make. Like anything in life, this is all about continual improvement.”
This was Obiena’s sixth gold medal in the outdoor meet and third straight podium finish.
Up next for Obiena would be the St. Wendel City Jump also in Germany on Wednesday, Aug. 31, followed by the Memorial van Damme event in Brussels, Belgium on Friday, Sept. 2.
He will also see action in the ISTAF 2022 in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 4 and the Golden Fly event in Schaan, Liechtenstein on Sept. 11.
