Stacked against a powerhouse foe, EJ Obiena fell short of winning the gold medal in the Wanda Diamond League Final at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon late Sunday (Manila time).
Obiena, the second-best pole vaulter in the world, registered 5.82 meters to finish behind Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who reset his own record with an incredible 6.23-meter performance to clinch the gold medal of this prestigious event.
Meanwhile, two-time world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States clinched the bronze medal via countback after he, Australian Kurtis Marschall and world No. 2 Chris Nilsen posted identical 5.72-meter marks, while Ben Broeders of Belgium and KC Lightfoot of the United States finished sixth and seventh places with 5.52 meters.
The 27-year-old Obiena kicked off his bid by clearing 5.62 meters after passing the starting height of 5.52 meters. Then, he passed the next height of 5.72 meters and went straight to 5.82 meters which he managed to clear after two tries.
He passed the 5.92 meters and attempted to surpass the national and Asian record by trying 6.02 meters but he failed.
It was Obiena’s 14th podium finish this season and fourth straight after winning gold medals in the ISTAF Berlin and the NetAachen Domspringen in Germany, and a bronze medal in the Memorial van Damme in Belgium.
It also boosted his confidence heading into the 19th Asian Gamesa in Hangzhou in which he is coming in as a heavy favorite for holding the continental record of 6.0 meters.
“Some are heading back home. Someone is getting married. Everyone is getting ready for the off-season,” Obiena said in a social media post.
“We? We are gearing up for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.”
But the day belonged to Duplantis.
After setting the record of 6.22 meters in Clermont-Ferrand, France last February, Duplantis roared anew, posting a masterful 6.23-meter jump, much to the delight of the banner crowd.
The 23-year-old Duplantis has now reset the world record seven times. Five of those marks were set indoors, with both of his outdoor world marks coming at Hayward Field in Eugene, where he won the world title last year.
“I’m two for two right now on world records coming here to Hayward,” Duplantis said.
“It has absolutely everything. It has history, it has the modern touch. The track is really fast, the crowd and energy is fantastic.”
Duplantis retained his world title in Budapest last month with a clearance of 6.10 meters and cleared 6.12 meters in Ostrava in June.
He had failed in a string of attempts at 6.23 meters since February, including at Brussels last weekend, but said the smaller field in the finals was more conducive to a record attempt
“I think that it’s a lot easier to be fresh at that world record height,” he said.
Duplantis had already secured victory with a height of 6.02 meters — the 73rd clearance of his career of more than six meters.
In his first effort at 6.23 meters, with the crowd chanting, he raced up the runway and sailed over.
“I just try to jump high,” said Duplantis, who believes he can continue to improve the record.
“The limit is very high, and I hope that I can continue to jump well and keep jumping higher than I did today.”
