Coming off a bronze medal finish in Poland, world No. 3 pole vaulter EJ Obiena plunges into action in the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge on Saturday evening (8:45 p.m. in Manila) at the Skansemyren Idrettspark in Bergen, Norway.
Obiena, 27, did 5.72 meters to share third place with American KC Lightfoot in the Memorial Ireny Szewinska in the city of Bydgoscz. World No. 2 Christopher Nilsen posted 5.92m to win the gold while Polish entry Piotr Lisek got the silver with a 5.82m.
Obiena is using these tournaments as a buildup for the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Pattaya, Thailand from 12 to 16 July and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
He is also preparing for the qualifying period for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which begins on 1 July as he needs to go over 5.82m in World Athletics-sanctioned events.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Edward Kho told Daily Tribune having Obiena get back at facing his topnotch opponents in the meets, which includes his training partner, Thiago Braz of Brazil and world champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden, will help him rev up for his upcoming events.
Kho also said having Obiena familiarized with the playing field in Asia gives him a big boost since he has been competing against tougher opponents in Europe.
“I think he just needs tougher competition so that he stays sharp. He is already familiar with the Asian circuit so that gives him a significant advantage,” Kho said.
“He’s been through more intense competitions but if he performs at a much higher level, that would increase his confidence level.”
Before kicking off his European campaign, Obiena easily captured his third straight Southeast Asian Games gold medal in Phnom Penh.
As of writing, the Norway event has yet to reveal the whole starting list.
From Norway, the Italy-based Obiena will bring his act to the Norwegian capital of Oslo for the Oslo Bislett Games on 15 June.
Duplantis, who regularly goes over six meters, is the undisputed king of the sport.
