EJ Obiena Claims 3rd SEA Games Title

Table of Contents

Continued from:

Obiena wins 3rd SEA Games title

Cambodia—Phnom Penh On a rainy Monday afternoon, May 8, EJ Obiena proved why he is the Asian pole vault champion.

Obiena won his third Southeast Asian Games gold medal in severe rain and high gusts, defeating an upgraded field in the event where he is virtually unbeatable in the area.

Despite a one-hour rain delay, Obiena cleared 5.65m, breaking his SEA Games record of 5.46m from last year in Vietnam.

It’s hard. “This is definitely a different challenge,” he remarked.

Before rain halted play, Obiena cleared 5.20m and 5.40m.

The Asian record holder surpassed his SEA Games record by clearing 5.50m, then 5.55m, 5.60m, then 5.65m.

After his final vault, he yelled and bowed to a small but noisy Filipino crowd at the 75,000-seat Coliseum.

God-willing, this rain ceased when I jumped. I needed the crowd to do it. God planned everything. “I’m happy,” Obiena stated.

Kasinpob Chomchanad and Patsapong Amsamaring of Thailand won silver and bronze with jumps over 5.20m.

In his SEA Games debut, Elijah Cole failed to pass 4.90m after three attempts.

Obiena ties Asian Indoor Record

Ernest Obiena tied the Asian and Philippine Indoor record with a 5.91m leap, in Upssala at the Mondo Classic on Feb 2, 2023. The mark tied his record of 5.91m set in the Perche Elite Tour in France, Rouen France in 2022. The Mondo Classic is named after the man himself Mondo Duplantis the world record holder, who went on to win his own event in 6.10m. KC Lightfoot took second in 5.91 was KC Lightfoot.

Obiena failed to clear heights at 6.00m and 6.05m.

Up next for Obiena are the Orlen Cup Lodz (Feb 4 ) and the Orlen Cup Copernicus ( Feb 8 ) in Poland.

EJ Obiena might be out of Asian indoors

ATHLETICS | Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena will skip the February 10-12 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano told RP2 that the world no. 3 pole vaulter will not join the Philippine team in the continental meet due to a logistics problem.

However, Capistrano said that Obiena is still mulling a last-minute decision if he will proceed.

Obiena kickstarted his indoor season with silver and gold medal wins in Germany and France.

To avoid undue stress, PATAFA advised Filipino vaulters initially lined up with the team to reconsider their participation.

Others on the roster are SEA Games bronze medalist Hokett Delos Santos and former SEA Games champion Natalie Uy who initially begged off due to a knee injury.

Olympian sprinter Kristina Knott was the first to withdraw from the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, reducing the team roster from 17 to 13 athletes.

Obiena Clears 5.82m

EJ Obiena participated again in Perche En Or in Roubaix, France. And the good thing is he won 1st place where he improved his jump to 5.82m. So, Congratulations EJ! This is your second win for 2023.

EJ Obiena – First 2 Performances of 2023

ATHLETICS | EJ Obiena opened his 2023 indoor season with a 5.77-meter leap and settled for silver at Springer International in Cottbus, Germany (January 23). The Filipino world no. 3 pole vaulter was way behind gold medalist American Sam Kendricks who cleared 5.82 meters. Obiena had previously won with 5.61 meters in Padova a few days before (January 21). EJ will next compete in Roubaix, France on Saturday 28th January. He is also scheduled for the Asian Indoors in Kazakhstan on February 10 where temperatures are getting to -30 centigrade.

EJ Posted on his Facebook Account

The 2023 Indoor Season Opened

here in Internationales Springer-Meeting with 5.77m. Cottbus you are amazing!!!

Swipe to see

the last vault of the night

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

SHARE THIS ARTICLE