APPARENTLY striking the iron while is hot, Ernest John Obiena jumped 5.92 meters early yesterday morning (Wednesday night in Europe) to rule the NetAaChen Domspringen meet in Katschof Aachen, Germany.
Merely three days after topping the Istaf outdoor meet in Berlin, Germany, Obiena was back in harness once again, handily beating American two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, who took the silver medal by clearing 5.87 meters.
Bagging the bronze medal was Frenchman Thibaut Collet (5.82) in the competition practically on the eve of the penultimate leg of the Wanda Diamond League series, the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, in Brussels, Belgium last night (Friday morning in Manila).
Obiena was listed in the meet to be held at the King Baudouin Stadium in the Belgian capital that will formally decide the six finalists in the Diamond League Final, the Prefontaine Classic, set Sept. 16 to 17 in Eugene, Oregon.
With 20 points, the Filipino pole vaulter is running fourth in the Wanda League overall standings of the men’s pole vault behind Armand Duplantis, Kendricks and his Chris Nilsen.
Duplantis leads the way with 37 points while the two Americans share second and third spots with 24 points each.
Australian Kurtis Marschall is fifth (17) while Belgian Ben Broeders is in sixth place with 10 points in a tie with German Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Norwegian Pat Haugen Lillefosse, who, however, are not around in Belgium.
