SHOWING marked improvement, Ernest John Obiena jumped 5.72 meters late Saturday night to wind up fifth in the men’s pole vault event of the Shanghai/Keqiao leg of the Wanda Diamond League at the Shanghai Stadium in China.
Still finding his groove as he recovers from spine surgery after competing in last year’s Paris Olympics, Obiena took four jumps to reach the height, which was seven centimeters better than the 5.65 he had in placing seventh in the previous leg in Xiamen a week ago.
The lean and lanky Pinoyvaulter beat on the countback American Paris Olympic silver medalist Sam Kendricks and Belgian Ben Broeders, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively, at the sprawling 72,000-seat arena that was the site of the preliminary football games of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.
From China, Obiena is expected to be back in the country to grace his pet project, the ICTSI Pole Vault Challenge, tomorrow at the Vermosa City Sports Hub oval in Imus, Cavite.
“At least there is a progression,” said the athlete’s father and national pole vault coach Emerson Obiena, of his son’s slow but steady bid to return to peak form before the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea at the end of the month.
As expected, Swedish pole vault superstar and back-to-back Olympic champion Armand Duplantis was in a class of his own anew, soaring to a new meet record of 6.11 seconds before finally bowing out as he tried to set a new world record at the height of 6.28 meters, one centimeter higher than his current world mark.
Rising Greek sensation and Paris Summer Games bronze medalist EmmanouilKaralis hounded Duplantis for most of the event before finally settling for the silver, clearing an outdoor season best of 6.01 meters. Veteran Dutchman Menno Vloon took the bronze (5.82).
“I am really happy to jump over six meters so early in the season. It was amazing, I feel really good. Everyone jumped well and I hope to be back here next year,” the lively Karalis said.
“I love China, I have now twice jumped over six meters here. Mondo really is an amazing ambassador for pole vault, I just try to be the best version of myself to be in the hunt,” he added.
