By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
EJ Obiena achieved another milestone this week after becoming the second best pole vaulter in the world.
In the latest World Athletics rankings, the 27-year-old Tokyo Olympian has moved from No. 3 to No. 2 following his strong showing in recent meets.
Obiena shared the news on social media on Thursday, July 20, thanking the people who supported him all the way.
“Good morning, Philippines. Your very own skinny kid from Tondo, alumni of CKSC and UST, is now WORLD NUMBER TWO,” Obiena wrote.
“Maraming salamat Pilipinas sa pagkakataon na iwagayway ang iyong diwa. This dreamer dares to dream.”
Obiena overtook former world No. 2 Chris Nilsen of the United States with a current ranking score of 1432. Nilsen, a silver medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, now sits at No. 3 with 1428.
Reigning Olympic champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden remains untouchable, keeping his No. 1 seed with 1569.
Obiena credited his achievement to his recent showing at the Asian Athletics Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, where he retained his gold medal with a new tournament record of 5.91 meters.
He never missed the podium in all his previous seven meets prior to that, including the Bergen Jump Challenge where he joined the elite “6-meter club” and the Bauhaus-Galan in Stockholm, Sweden where he met the Olympic qualifying standard of 5.82m for a ticket to the 2024 Paris Games.
Obiena, however, is not stopping as he eyes more accolades. He is scheduled to compete in the Meeting Herculis EBS, which is the Monaco leg of the Diamond League, on Friday, July 21.
