(UPDATE) FILIPINO pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena notched a new Asian indoor record with his second gold medal victory in the Istaf meet at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on Saturday (Manila time).
The 28-year-old Obiena cleared 5.93 meters, surpassing the 5.92 meters record of Kazakh Igor Potapovich established in February 1998.
Obiena’s previous indoor best was 5.91 meters, established at the Perche Elite Tour in Rouen, France, in March 2022.
The world’s No. 2 pole vaulter who ruled the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Croatia tried to post a new personal of 6.03 meters but failed in three attempts.
Obiena, who owns the Asian best outdoor record of 6.0 meters clearance, started at 5.56 meters and achieved the feat in just one attempt before skipping 5.66 meters and 5.75 meters.
The pride of Tondo then cleared the 5.82 meters bar, enough for him to claim the gold, after his closest rival Tray Oates of the United States of America failed to clear the same height.
Oates unsuccessfully used the first of his three attempts at 5.82 meters, then opted to skip it to use his remaining two attempts at 5.88 meters.
Oates, however, failed, finishing second to Obiena for the second straight time and settling for silver with his 5.75m clearance.
Robert Sobera of Poland bagged the bronze with 5.66 meters. He tried to clear 5.75 meters but was unsuccessful.
Obiena, the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympics this year, will next compete at the World Indoor Championship in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 3.