Obiena strikes again, tops personal best

THE Philippines’ EJ Obiena is getting better and feeling fine, less than two months away from seeing action in the real thing that is the Olympic Games.

The first Filipino qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics, Obiena is now done with two of the three tournaments he’s scheduled to compete in the final stretch of the long preparations for the Summer Games.

And he feels everything is on target.

“Another gold medal and a new personal and national outdoor record of 5.85m. Got to grind some more before the big day comes!,” Obiena posted on his Facebook account yesterday after topping the Jump and Fly competition in Mossingen, Germany.

One of the country’s biggest medal hopes in the Tokyo Games, Obiena cleared his own national outdoor record, season best and personal best in third attempt, eclipsing his previous meet record of 5.81 meters.

Obiena bested hometown bets Oleg Zernikel, who settled for silver with 5.70 meters, Philip Kass and Humann Tom Linus, who were tied at 5.40 meters for the bronze.

Obiena went for 5.93 meters, but he failed on all of his three attempts.

Still, Obiena’s victory proved that everything is running smoothly in his preparations for the Olympics.

Obiena kicked off this month’s outdoor campaign with a golden performance in Sweden where he matched the Tokyo qualifying standard of 5.80 meters.

Clearing the same height in the 2021 FBK Games in the Netherlands, Obiena a silver medal a few days later behind Sweden’s world record holder Armand Duplantis, who nailed a 6.10-meter mark.

The 25-year-old pole vaulter earlier broke the Philippine national indoor record thrice at the start of the year.

Obiena is one of a handful of Filipino athletes who are expected to figure prominently in the battles and eventually gift the country its first ever Olympic medal.

Foremost in the list of strong Pinoy gold medal contenders are newly-crowned US Open Women’s golf champion Yuka Saso, boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno,weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo.

As of yesterday, 11 athletes have officially made it to Team Philippines, with golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Juvic Pagunsan expected to formalize their entry in the coming weeks.