Olympics-bound Obiena breaks own PH record and dominates Berlin meet

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Tokyo Olympics-bound pole vaulter EJ Obiena and his camp are nearing their objectives in the intensive training camp abroad.

Now, with a few months left before the prized Olympics event, Obiena just ruled another international tournament. He made it even more special by breaking his own Philippine record of 5.62m during the Indoor Athletics Meet in Berlin, Germany.

The Olympic-bound Filipino set his 5.62m mark score during the Karlrushe World Indoor Tour Meeting but only clinched the fifth spot.

Obiena recorded another personal best score of 5.80 meters during the competition. This was enough to earn him the gold medal.

Torben Blech of Germany was close to reaching Obiena’s mark but needed one more attempt to execute such distance.

Oleg Zernikel, Blech’s fellow German pole vaulter, managed to land in third place – much farther behind Obiena’s score.

Obiena is nearing top form as what his coaches are expecting from their training and will continue to join other international tournaments to keep him in shape heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.