EJ OBIENA earned the distinction as the first winner of the Patafa Pole Vault Challenge on Tuesday night at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City, Cavite in a rare competition on local shores.
Obiena recorded his season best despite the rainy conditions by clearing 5.80 meters to rule the event, as expected.
READ: EJ Obiena captures gold in Taiwan amid foggy conditions
He surpassed the previous mark of 5.72 during the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in China early this month, while tying his season best in the indoor competitions in the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland.
Obiena admitted he hates it when he competes under rainy conditions but is still glad to notch his best record of the year, thus far.
“Happy to jump a new SB at my home track,” Obiena wrote on his Facebook page.
Yan-Han Wu of Chinese Taipei finished second with 5.15 meters, while Filipino pole vaulter Hokett Delos Santos placed third with 5.15 meters.
It was Obiena’s first competition locally since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in New Clark City where he also easily took the medal.
Since then, Obiena has emerged as one of the best pole vaulters in the world, reaching as high as No. 2 in the World Athletics rankings behind reigning Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis.
In a rare instance, Obiena is in the Philippines to train as he also prepares for the Diamond League competition in Xiamen, China.
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