Obiena wins gold in Berlin

MANILA, Philippines, February 8 ------ Is Tokyo-bound pole-vaulter EJ Obiena ripe to win the country’s first Olympic medal in athletics in almost a century? Obiena showed he’s capable of being the first Filipino Olympic medalist in the sport since Miguel White snared the 400m hurdles bronze in the 1936 Berlin Games following his record-breaking victory in the Internationales Stadionfest Indoor athletics meet in Berlin, Germany last Friday.

The 25-year-old Southeast Asian Games gold medalist cleared 5.80 meters to break the Philippine indoor record of 5.62m he himself set a week ago in the World Athletics Indoor Tour leg in Karlsruhe, Germany. “I do not really know this was possible. Now I’m seeing some kind of light in the tunnel and I am happy with the 5.80m jump,” said Obiena. Obiena was actually tied for first with German Torben Blech. But the Filipino seized the gold after clearing 5.80m on his first attempt while the latter did it on his second try to settle for the silver. Another German, Oleg Zernikel, took the bronze with a 5.72m. Obiena went for 5.87m but failed in three tries.

“The attempt at 5.80m felt easy. I did not want to move up with poles. I had this issue mentally. If I had another one, I know I could have made the 5.87m,” said Obiena. Obiena has been showing a lot of promise since last year after he raked in a gold, a pair of silvers and three bronzes that he highlighted with a personal outdoor best of 5.80m.

He is expected to join more indoor tournaments until March before going into the final push of his Tokyo preparations with other outdoor competitions lined up starting in April. “I did really badly in Karlsruhe, so I was like, I wanted to redeem myself and jump something good. I mean 5.80m is good,” said Obiena. “I am hoping for a little bit more, hopefully next time. “This height showed me that I am capable. We will see,” he added.

Source: philstar.com