June 29 ------ EJ OBIENA set a new season best in taking gold in the Taby Stavhoppsgala in Sweden. Obiena cleared 5.92 meters on his way to gold in his first event since completing quarantine due to COVID-19.
The Filipino pole vaulter eclipsed his previous personal best of 5.85 meters he set in Italy in a meet after winning his second gold in the 31st Southeast Asian Games. The effort was only .01 shy of his personal best and Asian record of 5.93 he set in Austria in September 2021. Thiago Braz of Brazil placed second with 5.82, with Simen Guttormsen of Norway taking third with 5.72.
In an interview days before the competition, Obiena said he had to take a break from training due to the virus that also forced him to miss two competitions including the Diamond League stop in Oslo. "I feel better now. Trying to get back in shape after being quarantined and isolated for seven days," said Obiena in an email with SPIN.ph.
Source: spin.ph