TOKYO-BOUND EJ Obiena bagged gold in the Jump and Fly International Athletics in Mossingen, Germany after setting a new record for Philippine pole vaulters on Saturday.
Obiena cleared 5.85 meters, breaking the 5.81 meter record he made in Piazza Ciari, Italy for the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers in 2019.
Germany’s Zernikel Oleg placed second, clearing 5.70 meters while Kass Philip and Human Tom, also from Germany, took home bronzes after both cleared 5.40 meters.
Obiena recently defeated 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Tiago Braz after clearing 5.70 meters in the Folksam Grand Prix in Sweden on June 3.
The UST alumnus earlier set a record in February when he cleared 5.80 meters in the ISTAF Indoor Athletics Meet in Berlin.
Obiena is the first Filipino Olympic qualifier and eyes the country’s first Olympic pole vault gold medal this July. Mark Ernest V. Villeza
