EJ Obiena continued to show his readiness for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games after securing his second medal in just after three days, bagging the silver in the 2021 FBK Games at the FBK Stadion, Hengelo, Netherlands, Sunday evening (Manila time).
The 25-year-old standout just recently topped the pack in the 2021 Gothenburg Athletics Grand Prix in Sweden. He took down competitors which include training partner and reigning Olympic champion Thiago Braz.
Obiena ended with the silver medal with his season’s best 5.80 meters — just 0.01 off his personal best and qualifying Games mark set in Italy in 2019.
The Filipino had a shot at the 5.86 mark, but he missed on all three to settle for his final height. Hometown bet Menno Vloon passed on the said height, but could not make it to 5.92. He eventually dropped back to 5.80 as well.
The reigning Asian champion, however, bagged the higher placing on count back. He failed four times throughout the heat, while the Dutch incurred five.
Armand Duplantis attempted to erase his existing world record with a 6.19-meter jump, but he could not clear the bar. Nonetheless, the Swede raised the new world leading mark to 6.10. He also bagged yet another gold in the process.
Obiena will next compete on July 31 at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium for the qualification round of the men’s pole vault. The final phase is set on August 3.
