By Ashley Bercasio
Ernest John Obiena captured the Philippines’ first-ever medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, registering 5.94 meters in the men’s pole vault event held in Eugene, Oregon on Monday morning (July 25).
Obiena’s leap bested the 5.93-meter personal, Philippine and Asian mark he recorded in September 2021 in Austria.
The 26-year-old vaulter was already assured of a bronze medal as only he along with world record holder and reigning Olympic champion Armand Duplantis and USA’s Christopher Nilsen, were the only ones to hurdle the 5.94-meter mark.
However, Obiena, the world’s no. 6, was unable to breach the 6-meter mark after three attempts.
Duplantis bagged the gold medal, tallying 6.21 meters, a new world record. On the other hand, Nilsen settled for the silver after also tallying 5.94 meters. –bny
