Metro Manila, Philippines – EJ Obiena had to earn his fourth straight gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games the tough way.
Obiena showed Olympian might in facing an intense battle against hometown bet Amsamarng Patsapong in the pole vaulting competition at the 33rd edition of the biennial meet in Thailand on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Patsapong raised the stakes after clearing 5.7 meters, pushing them both to exhaust their efforts at the 5.75 meters. Both of them failed at the height.
The Filipino athlete then secured the victory via countback as he hurdled 5.7 meters in one clean jump compared to the Thai foe’s three tries.
They effectively reset the competition record, with Patsapong celebrating a new personal best at the Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok.
It was Obiena who set the previous game record at 5.65 meters in 2023 Cambodia.
“Yesterday was the textbook definition of an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. 4th SEA Games🥇and a new championship record. I’d take that any day of the week,” Obiena wrote on Instagram the morning after the game.
He also shared that he endured blisters while doing his jumps.
Completing the podium was Kevin Cole with his 5.2-meter clearance, helping Team Philippines in its SEA Games performance.
“Tough battle with the boys, and I’m proud of them for boosting the region’s standard,” Obiena said.
World no. 11 Obiena skipped earlier heights and started at 5.35 meters, where only three out of seven competitors remained.
Cole, who is based in the United States, did not clear the height, but he was already assured of the bronze medal at that point.
Early jitters hit Obiena as he knocked off the 5.45-meter bar to force him to a second attempt, compared to Patsapong’s one try at the height.
The Filipino star sailed through 5.55 meters, 5.65 meters, and 5.7 meters, before the fierce jumpoff at 5.75 meters.
Just three months ago, the two-time Olympian Obiena leaped to 5.80 meters to win the World Pole Vault Challenge held in Makati.
