Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena cemented his three-peat win at the Asian Athletics Championships after ruling the competition’s 26th edition held in Gumi, South Korea on Saturday, May 31.
Obiena and China’s Huang Bokai had to battle it out on a jump-off as they were tied at 5.72 meters but both failed to clear 5.82 meters.
The bar was set at 5.77 meters, the height which both of them skipped.
After his training partner faltered at the height, the Tondo, Manila native seized the opportunity to bag the gold medal.
Huang settled for silver, while Thailand’s Patsapong Amsamarng was the bronze medalist after registering his personal best of 5.67 meters.
Another Filipino athlete, Hokett delos Santos, ranked 13th in the 15-man finals, with successful jumps at the first two heights of 4.82 meters and 4.97 meters.
Obiena holds the competition record of 5.91 meters achieved during the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand.
He won in Doha, Qatar in 2019. He clinched bronze in Bhubaneswar, India in 2017.
Currently ranked world no. 4, the 29-year-old Filipino star is the lone Asian pole vaulter to hurdle 6 meters.
