EJ Obiena bags bronze in World Athletics Continental Tour

MANILA, September 9 ------ EJ Obiena bagged another podium finish ahead of a busy month for him. Returning to action after two months, the Tondo native was a bronze finisher in the World Athletics Continental Tour in China during the weekend after he cleared 5.65 meters.

Home bet Tao Zhong won gold via countback after he cleared 5.75m, and Cole Walsh earned a silver finish on countback as he also leaped the same height as the Chinese. This was a huge boost for Obiena, who will be competing at the World Athletics Championships slated for September 13 to 21 in Japan.

The 29-year-old Filipino star cleared 6.00m during the 2023 edition of the championships — a height that serves as an Asian and Philippine record — and he is looking to rekindle the magic that he made in the said event. But aside from the Tokyo tournament, this was also a chance for Obiena to get some reps before the much-anticipated Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge from September 20-21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati.

Aside from the World No.7 Obiena, Turkey’s Ersu Sasma (No.5), The Netherlands’ Menno Vloon (No.6), Thibaut Collet of France (No.12), Ben Broeders of Belgium (No.13), USA’s Austin Miller (No.14), Poland’s Piotr Lisek (No.15), Oleg Zernikel of Germany (No.16), and USA’s Matt Ludwig (No.23) will also compete in the Makati tilt.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com