Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena made history as the first Filipino to secure a podium finish in the World Athletics Championships finals in Oregon, USA on Monday (Philippine time).
Obiena took home bronze after clearing 5.94 meters in two attempts, eclipsing the previous Asian record at 5.93 meters.
The 2021 Tokyo olympian cleared 5.55 meters on his first try then cleared 5.70 meters in two attempts. He then jumped 5.80 and 5.85 meters, respectively.
Armand Duplantis of Sweden took home the gold medal after being the only finalist to clear the bar at 6.0 meters.
After clearing 6.0 meters, Duplantis cleared 6.06 meters to break the championship record.
He then had the bar raised to 6.21 meters, a centimeter higher than his erstwhile personal best, for a shot at the world record. He mistimed his jump in his first attempt and cleared the bar in his second attempt to mark the fifth time in his young career he has broken the world record.
USA’s Christopher Neilsen snagged silver after clearing 5.94 meters in one go.
Obiena is the first Filipino to qualify for the World Outdoor Athletics Championships after missing his stint in the World Indoor Athletics Championships earlier this year in Belgrade, Serbia.
Obiena was ranked sixth in the world’s list of best pole vaulters to begin 2022. Mark Ernest V. Villeza
