Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena will make a World Athletics Championship finals appearance for the first time after placing 6th in the tournament’s qualifier in Oregon, USA on Saturday (Philippine time).
Obiena qualified after clearing 5.75 meters in two attempts. Only 12 were qualified for the next round.
The 26-year-old Filipino pole vaulter skipped the 5.30-meter bar then cleared 5.50 meters in earlier attempts. He then cleared the bar at 5.65 meters in one attempt.
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who currently holds the world record of 6.20 meters, Christopher Nielsen of USA, Thiago Braz of Brazil, Oleg Zernikel of Germany, Ersu Sasma of Turkey, Renaud Lavillenie of France, were also qualified in the finals.
Obiena will eye a podium finish in the finals to make another history as the first Filipino to win a medal in the tournament. He currently holds the Asian record of 5.92 meters.
The finals will take place on Monday, 8:25 a.m., (PH time) in the same venue.
