EJ Obiena set a new Philippine record of 5.87 meters when he finished second yesterday in the Irena Szwewinska Memorial/Bydgoszcz Cup in Poland.
The 25-year-old Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena surpassed the old record of 5.85 meters that he set in Mossingen, Germany last month.
He settled for the silver medal behind American pole vaulter Chris Nilson, who cleared 5.92 meters. Plotr Lisek of Poland won the bronze with a jump of 5.82 meters.
Obiena set his new national mark on his second try. He tried to clear 5.92 meters but failed thrice.
His next competition is the Bauhas-Galan on July 4 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium in Sweden.
Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan hopes to break out of a slump when she sees action in the Volunteers of America Classic today (Thursday in the US) at the Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas.
Pagdanganan and former national teammate Yuka Saso, the US Women’s Open champion, qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games after placing 44th and eighth, respectively, in the top 60 list of the International Golf Federation Olympic women’s rankings released last Tuesday.
But Pagdanganan, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games double gold medalistm has hit a rough spot, missing the cut in four of her last six events on the US LPGA tour, including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at The Athletics Golf Club in Johns Creek, Georgia.
Although Saso won’t be around, keeping Pagdanganan company is compatriot Dottie Ardina, who is hoping for a strong follow-up to her 12th place finish in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
