STILL recovering from minor knee surgery last month, Ernest John Obiena jumped 5.70 meters early morning yesterday to wind up in a two-way tie for eighth place in the Uppsala Pole Vault Invitational meet in Uppsala, Sweden.
Obiena ended up in a deadlock with two-time American world champion Sam Kendricks in the competition handily ruled by hometown sensation and Tokyo Olympic Games gold medalist Armand Duplantis, who set a season-best jump of 6.04 meters.
Duplantis tried to break his own world record of 6.18 meters but narrowly failed in his three tries at the 6.19-meter mark.
American Chris Nilsen, who bagged the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, settled for runner-up honors, clearing 5.92 meters and relegating compatriot KC Lightfoot to third on the countback.
There were actually four who jumped 5.70 meters but Obiena and Kendricks ended in eighth spot on the countback. Rio Olympic men’s pole vault champion Tiago Braz of Brazil and Dutchman Menno Vloon were tied in sixth place at the same height.
