PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Everybody expected EJ Obiena to win the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men’s pole vault competition on Monday.
No one though expected that it will be under such difficult conditions.
The Filipino pole vaulter stamped his class on the competition yet again by clearing 5.65 meters to shatter the SEA Games record that he himself set in Hanoi last year.
The world-ranked Filipino pole vaulter set the new record seemingly unmindful of the pouring rain that forced a temporarily suspension of the competition.
When play resumed, Obiena was back his old self, easily clearing the bar and making a splash, literally, on the wet landing spot after each successful attempt.
“I swam, basically,” said Obiena smiling. "This is tough ... this is a different kind of challenge for sure. I mean, I knew it might rain, I was hoping it doesn't."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
