By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino pole vaulting sensation EJ Obiena continues to rack up the gold medals after another terrific campaign during the recently concluded 2022 True Athletes Classics in Leverkusen, Germany.
Obiena was able to complete his third podium finish after a bronze medal performance at Lausanne, Switzerland and a gold medal win during the Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Germany several days ago.
The Filipino superstar finished the True Athletes Classics meet with a score of 5.81-meters and nipped Rutger Koppelaar of the Netherlands via the count-back rule.
Obiena was off to a great start in Germany after clearing the 5.63-m height in a single attempt and successfully got past the 5.73-m height during his next jump.
Aside from Netherlands’ representative Koppelaar, Kurtis Marschall of Australia also hurdled the 5.81-m winning height but had to burn all of his attempts.
Obiena again attempted to reset his Asian pole vaulting record of 5.94-m but failed to get past the 5.95-m after securing the gold medal.
Completing the list of the participants were Germany’s Bo Kanda Lita Baehre & Oleg Zernikel and Norway’s Sondre and Simen Guttorsmen.
Obiena will seek another podium finish and extend his medal run to four when he competes at the St. Wendel City Jump tournament to be held also in Germany on August 31.
