UST’s EJ Obiena ruled the 2019 Summer Universiade pole vault event Saturday at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy.
Obiena cleared 5.76 meters to secure the gold after beating silver medalist Torben Blech on countback. Belgian Ben Broeders took home bronze after hitting 5.51 meters.
Obiena came out victorious after reaching 5.76 meters in just his second attempt while Blech got it on his third try.
“I still cannot believe that I have won the meet because it’s the World University Games — the world stage which have been my dream to represent my country in,” the 23-year-old told the Varsitarian in an online interview.
With Obiena clearing 5.76 meters, he has surpassed the previous Southeast Asian and Philippine record of 5.71 meters, a mark he also owned back in Doha, Qatar last April.
This is the country’s second gold medal in the biennial meet, with chess prodigy Wesley So bagging the first one in the 2013 edition.
Obiena will next see action on Tuesday, July 16, in the Meeting Città di Padova in Italy.
