By: Jerod Orcullo
EJ Obiena continued to assert his dominance in the pole vaulting as he takes a podium win at the Brussels Diamond League. Photo courtesy of EJ Obiena.
Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena continued to assert his status as one of the world’s finest pole vaulters after he grabbed the bronze medal in the Brussels Diamond League in Belgium last September 9.
The world-class talent has had a lot of silverware around his neck in the past couple of weeks as he bagged medal after medal in his trip around Europe in various events.
Obiena began his hunt with a silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on August 26. However, he found himself in no man’s land as he finished last at the Zurich leg of the Diamond League in Switzerland on the first of the month.
Despite this minor setback, he bounced back in tremendous fashion copping back-to-back gold medals in Germany. He topped his group in Istaf Berlin at Olympiastadion on September 4 and cleared a height of 5.92 meters to clinch first in NetAachen Domspringen in Aechen on September 7.
As of September 5, he is placed at third in the World Rankings of Men’s Pole Vault with 1,430 points behind only the likes of American Christopher Nilsen (1,438) and the Swede Armand Duplantis (1,543). Yet it is likely to change after EJ’s recent performances.
The 27-year old will look to carry this momentum heading into the final leg of the Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon from September 16-17. He is also set to participate in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China marked to start on Sept. 22