By Ashley Bercasio
Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena recorded a season-best 5.92 meters to rule the Taby Stavhoppsgala in Taby, Sweden on Tuesday, June 28 (June 29, PH time).
In his first tournament since recovering from COVID-19, the 26-year-old track star edged 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil who wound up in second place after posting 5.82m.
Braz cleared 5.82m in just a single attempt whereas Obiena needed two tries to reach the same height.
The Tondo-born Obiena then cleared the 5.92-meter mark in two tries, a feat Braz could not match in all of his three attempts.
After securing the gold medal, Obiena tried to eclipse his 5.93m personal best which also happens to be the Philippine and Asian standard but could not clear 6.01m in three tries.
Simen Guttormsen completed the podium with his 5.72m.
Up next for the world’s no. 6 pole vaulter is the Stockholm Diamond League set on Thursday, June 29 (Friday, PH time). – gb
