On any given day, EJ Obiena could give world champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden a run for his money after the Filipino pole vaulter finished higher than the Swede at the Monaco Diamond League at the Stade Louis-II in Fontvieille, Monaco early Saturday (Manila time).
Obiena finished in second place after clearing 5.82 meters in one attempt while Duplantis crashed into a three-way tie at fourth place with American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks and Bo Kanda Lite Baehre of Germany after posting 5.72m.
For Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Edward Kho told Daily Tribune that Obiena, who earned $6,000 (P365,000) in the Monaco meet after getting second place, getting himself comfortable in making higher jumps consistently.
“These show that their performances aren’t linear in technical events in pole vault. You won’t be able to dominate all competitions because there will be times when you will be off. That’s the human condition,” Kho said in a phone conversation.
“For EJ, his performance is cruising in the 5.80m range so that when the Olympics, he will be comfortable in making past 5.80m,” he added.
Tokyo Olympics pole vaulter Christopher Nilsen came out on top with 5.92m with Australia’s Kurtis Marschall coming in third place due to countback despite also getting over 5.82m.
Norway’s Pal Haugen Lillefosse also got 5.72m but settled for seventh place due to countback.
Thibaut Collet of France and American Zach McWhorter were tied for eighth place after both athletes went over 5.62m.
French pole vaulter and 2012 London Olympics gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie, Ben Broeders of Belgium and Norwegian Somdre Guttormsen shared tenth place after only making it past 5.42m.
Obiena is also gearing up for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest from 19 to 27 August and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
The world’s second-best pole vaulter is also earning points in the Diamond League for the final in Eugene, Oregon from 16 to 17 September.
