ERNEST JOHN OBIENA ENDS WINNING STREAK WITH SILVER

Ernest John Obiena Filipino Olympian gold medal-winning streak, highlighted by an upset victory over world champion Armand Duplantis at the Brussels Diamond League in Belgium, came to a halt after salvaging a silver in the men’s pole vault event of the  ISTAF Berlin in Germany on Sunday, September 4.

The Filipino star pole vaulter, fell short with 5.81 meters to lag behind The Netherlands’ Mennon Vloon who leaped to a personal best of 5.88m for the gold, en route to also smashing a national record.

Ernest John Obiena, however, skipped the 5.88m only to fail in his three attempts at 5.95m.

Australian Kurtis Marschall also registered 5.81m but Obiena edged him via countback after needing only two tries to clear the height.

He ruled three competitions over the past two weeks –  Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting, True Athletes Classics, and St. Wendel City Jump in Germany.

Ernest John Obiena social media

On his social media accounts, Obiena wrote: “A few more competitions before we call it a season. Let us keep pushing and keep fighting.”

Early this year, he also emerged champion in the Orlen Cup in Poland on February 12 (5.81m), Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland on February 23 (5.81m), 31st SEA  Games in Hanoi on May 14, European City of Sports L’aquila Leg on May 30 in Italy (5.85m), Taby Stavhoppsgala on June 29 in Sweden (5.92m), and Jump ad Fly in Hechingen, Germany (5.80m).

The world’s third-ranked pole vaulter also captured the Philippines’ historic bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships on July 25 in the USA (5.94). He also copped bronze in the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland.

Ernest John Obiena, who qualified for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary after topping the  Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting (5.81m), will next see action in the Liechtenstein leg of the Golden Fly Series on Sunday, September 11.

He was recently commended by the House of Representatives for bringing pride and honor to the country.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre co-authored House Resolution No. 317, congratulating Obiena for his feats.

EJ’s accomplishment

The resolution states, “With his string of accomplishments, EJ’s feat is one of the greatest in Philippine athletics’ history, and underscored the kind of dizzying heights the country has achieved in pole vaulting,” adding, “He is set to compete again in various events, and with his hard work and determination to be the best male pole vaulter, success is within his reach.”

To this Obiena replied on his Facebook, “Greatest of thanks po for the commendation.”

Meanwhile, he stunned Duplantis in Belgium, clearing the 5.91m height on his third attempt while the latter settled for the silver with a 5.81m. Both players dueled it out in the 5.91m, committing two fouls each before Obiena succeeded in his third try.

Tokyo Olympics silver winner Chris Nilsen of the United States made  5.71m to clinch the bronze via countback to defeat Rutger Koppelaar of The Netherlands and Thiago Braz of Brazil.