Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes within the males’s pole vault last in the course of the thirty second Southeast Asian Video games (SEA Video games) on the Morodok Techo Nationwide stadium in Phnom Penh on Could 8, 2023. (Photograph by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
PHNOM PENH—EJ Obiena isn’t actually keen on recollecting that harrowing episode again within the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
With the qualification meets within the subsequent Olympics in 2024 Paris quick approaching, the Filipino pole vault star can be extremely motivated in a bid to qualify for the Video games early.
“It might be good if I might make it early,’’ stated Obiena, in excessive spirits after including a 3rd straight gold medal in males’s pole vault to his assortment, once more in record-shattering vogue on the thirty second Southeast Asian Video games.
The world’s No. 3 vaulter ought to at the very least clear 5.82 meters in a event sanctioned by World Athletics when the qualifying for Paris kicks off July 2.
After resetting his personal SEA Video games commonplace to five.65 meters on a wet Monday night, Obiena can be prepping up for the forthcoming outside season in Europe starting with the continental tour in Poland on June 6.
Philippines’ EJ Obiena celebrates after successful the boys’s pole vault last in the course of the thirty second Southeast Asian Video games (SEA Video games) on the Morodok Techo Nationwide stadium in Phnom Penh on Could 8, 2023. (Photograph by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
`”{That a} approach to begin my outside season. The objective is to go greater in these collection of tournaments and hopefully get that (Olympic) spot instantly,’’ stated Obiena, the Asian document holder at 5.94 meters.
After the outside season, the Italy-based Obiena could make the Asian Video games in Hangzhou, China in September an official coronation with out a appreciable risk within the continent.
“I’ve been wanting ahead to that, however I hope I’ve already certified (for the Olympics) earlier than the Asian Video games,’’ stated the 6-foot-2 second-generation vaulter who grew to become the primary Filipino to safe a spot for the Tokyo Olympics again in 2019.
Obiena managed to clear 5.70m and landed eleventh in the course of the Tokyo Video games, however his progress has been super ever since.
He positioned third within the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States, the primary for a Filipino to realize such a feat on a worldwide stage.
The 27-year-old from Tondo, Manila and son of Filipino pole vault nice Emerson Obiena even beat Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis on the prestigious Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium final yr.
“This (pointing to the Philippine flag on the left aspect of his chest), retains me motivated,’’ stated Obiena.
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