EJ Obiena Propels in World Records

By Joshua Rieson Sorreda

F ilipino pole vaulter

Ernest John Obiena, more commonly known as EJ Obiena, leaps over new heights after clinching Bronze in the World Athletics Championships last July 24 in Eugene, Oregon.

Obiena achieved a new high ranking in the Men’s Pole Vault in World Athletics. Previously 6th in the world records, he rose the ladder three steps higher to the third spot.

Joining the Obiena are his fellow podium finishers, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, who bagged No. 1, and USA’s

Christopher Nilsen, No. 2 in the Worlds, respectively.

The Filipino pride capped a personal best of 5.94m in Oregon to tally a new personal best and rewrite the Asian record to win the country’s first-ever medal. He amassed a total of 1,408 points and leaped over the

2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist. Thiago Braz settles with 4th in the world rankings at present.

In the men’s overall ranking, Obiena is in 31st place.