By Ashley Bercasio
The Tondo-born track star did not just snag the Philippines’ first-ever medal in the World Athletics Championships and broke the Asian record, he also did it in the most competitive pole vault field ever.
According to Obiena’s long-time adviser, James Lafferty, the 2022 World Championships held in Eugene, Oregon on Monday, July 25, was the fiercest pole vault competition on record.
“It’s the first time that four competitors ever cleared 5.87 meters in a competition, it’s the first time that four competitors ever attempted six meters in the same competition, so what you have seen is our very own EJ Obiena has earned a medal in what has been the most difficult and competitive competition in the history of pole vault,” Lafferty said.
Reigning Olympic gold medalist Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden walked away with the gold medal, registering 6.21 meters which was a new world record.
Christopher Nilsen of the United States tallied 5.94 meters and ended with the silver medal.
Obiena was also able to clear the same height. However, he was relegated to third place since he needed two attempts to clear the height while Nilsen did it in just one attempt.
Regardless, Obiena’s bronze medal means so much more for the Philippines.
Dating back to 1983, the Philippines has already sent 17 athletes to the World Athletics Championships. So far, only Obiena has made it to the finals.
A total of 203 countries have also tried their luck in the World Championships. Only 104 have won a medal.
With Obiena’s bronze medal win, the Philippines was catapulted to the 97th place of World Athletics Championship rankings.
For Obiena, going through a messy dispute with his own federation, a knee surgery and a bout with COVID-19, made his world championship performance a bit sweeter.
“I think, it just solidified what I already knew I am capable of, which is competing with the best in the world,” Obiena said.
“There’s a lot of things that happened this year and I keep telling to everyone who’s asking me, I didn’t know from the start of the year that I’ll be here. I didn’t know if I’m gonna be able to compete, I didn’t even know if I can represent the Philippines. All of that doubt, of course, definitely played a role, maybe a blessing in disguise or a negative thing, nobody would know.”
Just a few days before the Oregon meet, the Commission on Audit (COA) cleared Obiena from the Philippine Athletics Track and Field’s (PATAFA) allegations of fund embezzlement.
“Now I’m very happy that COA shared their findings into public and that’s very appreciated, I wanna thank COA for that,” he added.
With all of the drama already behind him, Obiena now as another goal in mind, that of which is to to become a member of the 6-meter club – a feat so rare that only 24 athletes have reached it.
“Hopefully, soon I’ll join that 24-person club. Hopefully, not long, hopefully, soon, hopefully, within this season,” Obiena remarked.
Obiena will have his first crack at the that feat when he competes alongside Duplantis and Nilsen once more at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial set for Aug. 6 in Chorzow, Poland. — gb
