FILIPINO pole-vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena redeemed himself from a forgettable effort a few days ago in the Wanda Diamond League in Zurich, Switzerland with a sterling ISTAF Berlin triumph in Germany yesterday (Sept. 4).
Summoning his old magnificence, the 27-year-old Asian record-holder made sure to bury the ghost of that Zurich past by snaring his first ISTAF gold with a 5.92-meter clearance.
He needed to clear it on his third and last attempt to beat Norwegian Sondre Guttormsen and American KC Lightfoot, who wound up with the silver and bronze medal, respectively, following an identical 5.82ms.
The United States’ Chris Nilsen, whom Mr. Obiena is jockeying against for the World No. 2 position, was fourth with a 5.72m.
Olympic champion and world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden did not join.
“It was a good day,” said Mr. Obiena, who was second in this same event last year and fourth the year before that. “Finally got this outdoor trophy after so many years coming up short.”
Mr. Obiena, however, later revealed he left his trophy because it won’t fit in anymore to the plane he is riding to another competition.
“Maybe a bit more wait because we have no luggage space when flying low-cost airlines,” he said. — Joey Villar
