Ernest John Obiena is slowly but surely becoming more confident battling the world’s best pole vaulters.
He showed this when he bagged the gold medal in the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike competition in the Czech Republic on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) with a season-best attempt of 5.74 meters against a world-class field that included world and Olympic champions.
“Iba iba ang direction ng hangin nu’ng laro, pero mas handa siya at nandoon din si coach Vitali (Petrov) para mag bigay ng feedback. Mas confident siya (EJ) ngayon,” said Obiena’s dad Emerson following a long-distance chat with his son.
Both the Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena and 2012 Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie of France cleared the same height when action ended at MÄ›stský stadium.
But since the Frenchman cleared 5.64 meters in three attempts in the countback, Lavillenie was awarded the silver medal. The 24-year-old Obiena made the 5.64 meters in just two.
The guidance of coach Petrov allowed the 6’2” Obiena to navigate his way across the wind-strewn-runway and into the box for his memorable second attempt.
“Wind was a bit shifty, but my coach was there to give me the advice that I need,” said Obiena in an interview with the Manila Standard.
Two-time reigning world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States settled for the bronze medal after clearing the height of 5.64 meters.
Obiena’s training partner, reigning Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil, landed fourth after tying Kendricks at 5.64, as he needed three attempts to get it right.
Obiena’s mark was higher than what he cleared when he registered a bronze-medal worthy 5.70 meters at the Diamond League in Monaco last August.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico lauded Obiena’s feat.
“EJ Obiena’s outstanding performance in Ostrava clearly demonstrates once again that EJ and the Obiena family, EJ’s supporters, the PSC and PATAFA are doing the right things to produce noteworthy results,” said Juico.
Juico said Obiena’s feat was made possible with the guidance of Petrov and Braz da Silva, a close friend whose advise is helping Obiena find focus.
A few days ago, Obiena was not able to compete with many others in the International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria after it was stopped because of heavy rains.
Three weeks ago, Obiena made 5.62 meters to finish at fifth place in the 2020 Janusz Kusocinski Memorial Athletics meet in Chorzow, Poland.
Back then, Obiena admitted that he got physically tired in his bid to make higher attempts.