Obiena finishes in fifth place in Shaoxing, China

IN time, Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena will regain the form that vaulted him straight to World No. 2.
But for now, all the Asian champion and record-holder could do is to continue to plod on in rediscovering his old self in the aftermath of another heartbreaking effort — a fifth-place finish in the Wanda Diamond League in Keqiao, Shaoxing in China on Saturday.
The Southeast Asian Games king cleared 5.72 meters, which was good enough for No. 5.
The World No. 2 was left watching Swede superstar Armand Duplantis effortlessly soar to an astonishing 6.11 meters that expectedly copped him the gold.
Greek Emmanouil Karalis took the silver with a 6.01 meters while Dutch Menno Vloon snared the bronze with a 5.82 meters.
Mr. Obiena tried for a podium finish but missed out clearing 5.82m thrice.
The effort came a week after a seventh-place effort in Xiamen where he managed a 5.62 meters. — Joey Villar