Filipino superstar athlete Ernest John Obiena leapt to his season’s best this year on a cloudy and overcast day, right in front of his cheering countrymen in winning the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Obiena, who struggled with an 11th-place finish in the recent World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, cleared the rain-drenched vaulting box at the height of 5.80 meters in his second attempt as he snared the gold medal when action ended at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.
Frenchman Thibaut Collet reached the same height that Obiena cleared on his third attempt to settle for the silver medal.
Both tried going higher, but fatigue overcame Obiena when he tried to reach 5.85 meters twice and 5.90 meters once.
“I needed to rest. But I said I gotta go with this,” said Obiena after he equalled his best performance from three other competitions that he joined early this year in Poland, the Philippines and Madrid.
Collet, who was seeking to have the best experience on his first trip to Manila, was a centimeter short of his personal best with his silver-medal finish.
Still, this was the 26-year-old Collet’s best showing after placing fifth in the World Athletics Championships last week.
Polish bet Piotr Lisek finished at third after hitting 5.6 meters.
Turkish standout Ersu Sasma took fourth when he missed out on 5.6 meters and reached the height of 5.45 meters.
American Matt Ludwig landed fifth after making it up to 5.45 meters.
