By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
You win some. You lose some.
EJ Obiena faltered in his historic bid of a podium finish at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships after settling for ninth place in men’s pole vault on Sunday, March 3 (Monday, March 4 in Manila) in Glasgow, Scotland.
The world No. 2 and Asian record holder was far from his best self after registering 5.65 meters — his lowest performance since posting 5.60m at the Weltklasse Zurich outdoor event in Switzerland in August last year.
It was also far from his golden performances in his recent two indoor meets — a 5.83m feat in Croatia and 5.93m in Berlin, Germany.
As expected, world record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden retained his title with a world lead record of 6.05m. American Sam Kendricks clinched the silver with 5.90m — his third since winning in the 2016 Portland and 2018 Birmingham editions, while Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis bagged the bronze with a season-best 5.85m.
Obiena immediately started at 5.65m where he cleared on his second attempt before passing on 5.75m to go straight at 5.85m.
There, he struggled by failing his first two tries before deciding to use his final attempt at 5.95m, which he was also unsuccessful.
The tournament served as a preview of what’s in store for Obiena in the 2024 Paris Olympics, though the competition will be held outdoors.
Eleven athletes — all Olympians — saw action in the event including seven already qualified for Paris.
American Chris Nilsen, who won bronze in the 2022 Belgrade edition, settled for fourth via countback with 5.75m, while Australian Kurtis Marschall registered the same height for fifth.
Belgium’s Ben Broeders and Netherlands’ Menno Vloon finished with identical 5.65m with Obiena but managed at shared sixth via countback.
Turkey’s Ersu Sasma was at 10th with 5.50m while Poland’s Piotr Lisek bowed out of contention early with no mark.
