By Juan Carlo R. Mercado

PHOTO: Daily Guardian

EJ Obiena is back, returning from a not-so-good run at the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden, by meeting the gold medal on top of the pole vault in the Jump and Fly competition in Germany on Saturday.

Following his gold vault at the Taby Stavhoppsgala in Sweden, where he chalked up only this week left a season-best record of 5.92 meters, the Filipino pole vault champion recorded 5.80 meters after attempting it three times.

After three attempts, Obiena fell short to smash his own Asian record of 5.93 meters, albeit successful in capturing his sixth gold medal this year. 

On the other hand, China's very own Huang Bokai grabbed second place and Vincent Hobbie of Germany didn't let anyone take away his bronze medal.

COVID-19 limited Obiena to only three games as he continues to prepare for the upcoming World Outdoor Athletics Championship that will take place in Oregon starting from July 15-24.

The Tokyo Olympian also placed sixth in the League after clearing 5.73 meters. 

The reigning champ, Armand Duplantis demolished the last record during the same Diamond League competition by clearing 6.16 meters.

Both Brazilian Thiago Braz and American Chris Nilsen cleared 5.93 meters to take home silver and bronze, respectively, in Stockholm.


Edited by Quian Vencel Galut