Ernest John “EJ” Obiena leapt to a season-best with his new poles, clearing 5.97 meters to the rule the Irena Szewinska Memorial tournament in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Friday (Manila time).
The 28-year-old Obiena, who will compete at the Paris Olympics next month, then tried to go for Philippine national record, but missed the 6.02-meter mark in three tries.
This year’s world indoor silver medallist Emmanouil Karalis from Greece settled for the silver medal behind Obiena with his 5.92-meter performance.
Poland’s Piotr Lisek came in at third for the bronze with 5.75 meters.
Obiena’s jump was higher than when he won the gold in the Los Angeles Grand Prix last month at 5.8 meters.
Last week, Obiena began getting comfortable with his new set of poles.
He received his new sticks ordered for him by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and its president Terry Capistrano.
Obiena’s eight poles arrived on June 15 in Italy, after these were personally delivered by fellow pole vaulter Ed Lasquete.
The PATAFA chief acquired new equipment for Obiena upon learning that the poles he owned got damaged during competition and in practice.
He first broke his pole during competition in the 2024 Ostrava Golden Spike – World Athletics Continental Tour Gold in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where he placed seventh.
The top Asian pole vaulter broke his second pole during practice, forcing him to borrow two poles as he settled for a bronze medal at the Diamond League – Oslo Bislett Games in Norway.
Obiena again used borrowed sticks to land seventh place at the Diamond League’s Bauhaus-Galan leg in Stockholm, where he cleared 5.70 meters.
