EJ Obiena kicks off busy 2022 with fourth-place finish in Germany

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Nothing is stopping Filipino pole vaulting sensation EJ Obiena from reaching his ultimate goal of being the best in the sport.

Despite a stressful and hectic pre-tournament due to the controversy between him and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA), Obiena was still able to get the job done and had a decent finish during the recently concluded ISTAF Indoor Berlin competition.

Obiena managed to clinch fourth place after clearing the 5.70-meter mark but couldn’t get past the next heights including the 5.81-meter mark.

Despite competing on a healing left knee due to a recent surgery done on his meniscus, Obiena still wowed the crowd and took down the best pole vaulters of the world.

KC Lightfoot reigned supreme in the prestigious competition, going over the 5.92-meter mark to claim another career championship.

Meanwhile, pole vaulting legend Armand Duplantis from Sweden placed second while Germany’s Oleg Zernikel settled for the bronze with 5.81 meters.

After Obiena’s stint in Berlin, Germany, Obiena will be heading to Uppsala, Sweden, to join his second professional pole vaulting tournament of the year.

Obiena revealed in his official social media accounts that he will be entering a busy 2022 schedule for his quest of claiming the world no. 1 pole vaulting spot.

Recently, the World Athletics organization ranked Obiena as the world’s no. 3 pole vaulter together with Sam Kendricks of the United States and Russia’s Timur Morgunov.

Claiming men pole vaulting’s top spot is Duplantis while Christopher Nilsen of USA placed second.