IN a good sign to his Olympic build-up, Ernest John Obiena kicked off his European outdoor season early yesterday morning (Wednesday in Europe) by clearing 5.70 meters to rule the men’s pole vault of the Gothenburg Grand Prix at the Slottkogvallen Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden.
After being inactive for more than three months, Obiena needed only three tries to bag the gold, relegating Brazilian training partner and Rio Olympic Games gold medalist Tiago Braz, who cleared 5.65 meters, to the silver medal. Norway’s Pau Ligen Lillefosse settled for bronze on the countback after he and American Cole Walsh both cleared 5.60 meters.
Obiena, who holds the national mark of 5.86 meters set in the Orlen Cup in Lodz, Poland in February 2020, tried to clear 5.80 meters but failed since he was still trying to get a grip on his poles, according to his father-coach Emerson.
“EJ is still trying to familiarize himself with his poles after being out of action for a while.
His first two attempts at 5.80 were not good so was unable to adjust in his last try,” said the elder Obiena, who talked to his son after the event that was held past midnight in the Philippines.
“The adrenaline is really different when you are using poles in practice and in an actual competition,” explained the athlete’s mother, Jeanette, also a former college and national athlete, adding that “overall his performance was fine for his first competition in months.”
The Obienas said their son and Braz are returning to their World Athletics elite training camp in Formia, Italy before heading out again for another meet set for Friday (Saturday in Manila).
Obiena, the country’s first Olympic qualifier, bided his time while the six other entries began at low heights, making his move when the bar was raised to 5.60 meters, clearing it on his second attempt.
Braz, whose national mark of 6.03 meters was set in the Rio Olympiad five years ago, began at 5.50 meters before nailing the silver with 5.65 meters, clearing both heights on the first jump.
After Obiena cleared 5.70 meters, the Brazilian tried to outdo his Filipino training partner but failed in three attempts at 5.75 meters.
