CHALK up another milestone for Ernest John Obiena, who will compete in the men’s pole vault event of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium today,boasting a personal all-time high of No. 5 in the World Athletics rankings.
“World No. 5. An ordinary man guided by God’s extraordinary grace. I may not meet the expectation(s) of all, but I keep on trying. Thank you for all the prayers and support,” Obiena posted on his Facebook account yesterday.
The six-foot-2 beanpole isin exalted company as part of the world’s top 5 in the event’s ratings released last Tuesday, Aug. 31, from the World Athletics headquarters in Monaco.
The list is topped by Swede Tokyo Olympic Games gold medalist Armand Duplantis, followed by American silver medalist Chris Nilsen, compatriot and two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, and 2012 London Olympic men’s pole vault champion Renauld Lavillenie of France.
Obiena was ahead of Polish Piotr Lisek, American KC Lightfoot, Brazilian Thiago Braz, the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist; Russian Timor Morgunov and Frenchman Valentin Lavillenie, the younger brother of Renauld, who were ranked Nos. 6 to 10, respectively.
“The journey continues and I am proud to carry the nation with me. Getting there,” added Obiena, whose new Philippine mark of 5.91 meters in his runner-up finish behind Duplantis at the Wanda League leg at the Charlety Stadium in Paris, France over the weekend raised him one notch up in the ratings.
Obiena beat Olympic rival Nilsen, Lisek, and the older Lavillenie in the Paris meet.
The Philippine Sports Commission has rewarding Obiena with a P250, 000 bonus that was approved by the five-man PSC board led by Chairman Butch Ramirez last Tuesday based on the provisions of Republic Act 10699, the incentives law.
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist renew his challenge to Duplantis at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the Belgian capital famous for its art deco taverns, Flemish art and Gothic cathedrals.
Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who have been perennial guests of honor, are scheduled to attend the 45th edition of the event named in honor of the famous Belgian middle distance runner Ivo Van Damme. They will be accompanied by childrenPrince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore.
Van Damme, who bagged a silver medal in the men’s 800 and 1,500-meter events of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, died in a car crash on Dec. 29, 1976 on the way to his wedding at the age of 22.
