Obiena breaks own record, bags third straight SEAG gold
By Joie Frances Timbas
Thomasian olympian EJ Obiena notched a record-breaking performance to bag his third consecutive gold in the men’s Pole Vault competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on Monday, May 8, at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The world’s no. 3 pole vaulter erased his own record of 5.46m made in Vietnam last year with a new, gold-clinching meet of 5.65m. He also cleared 5.55m which also eclipses his previous outing.
The Filipino Olympian did not let the inclement weather affect his performance despite the risk of slipping with a 5.40m clearance before the rain poured, which put him ahead of fellow SEA competitors.
He earlier cleared 5.20m in his second attempt, but Obiena wanted to contest his first try citing that he did not touch the bar and it was a successful try.
All’s well that ends well with the Thomasian pole vaulter’s victorious feat to notch the country’s 19th gold medal this year and first in the Athletics category.
