EJ Obiena surpasses Asian record, snags gold in Austria meet
by Ernest Martin Tuazon
Thomasian pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena breaks the 1988 Asian record, and went with a gold finish at the 2021 Golden Roof Challenge in Austria on Saturday, September 11 (Sunday, September 12, Manila Time).
Obiena’s record-breaking 5.93-meter jump surpassed the 5.92-meter Asian record of Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich in 1988.
Obiena was assured of bagging the gold medal as his opponent bowed out at the height of 5.80 meters.
Still, the Thomasian pole vaulter was eager to clear 5.93 meters.
Obiena successfully vaulted over the 5.93-meter mark in his last attempt, leaving a mark in the Asian Pole vaulting history.
The Filipino pole vaulter also surpassed his own national record of 5.91m which he set in the Paris Diamond League last August 28.
USA’s Matt Ludwig settled for silver, while Turkish native Ersu Sasma finished bronze.
