EJ faces acid test
After topping several tournaments around Europe the past few months, world No. 6 pole vaulter EJ Obiena will be put to a test when he competes alongside the sport’s creme dela creme in the World Athletics Championships on Saturday (Manila time) in Eugene, Oregon.
Fresh from lording it over in Italy, Sweden and Germany, Obiena competes alongside a crack field in Eugene that will be bannered by Tokyo Olympics champion Armand Duplantis, the US-born Swede, who holds the world indoor record of 6.20 meters and outdoor mark of 6.16.
Also entered are Tokyo silver medalist Chris Nilsen of he US, who has a personal-best of 6.02 meters, and Thiago Braz, the Brazilian training partner of Obiena.
Braz took the gold in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with an effort of 6.03 meters.
In an outdoor event in Belgrade, Serbia, in March 2022, Braz, 28, did 5.95 meters.
Obiena, who turns 27 in November, has a personal-best of 5.93 meters and will have to elevate his game to make the podium assuming everyone lives up to their lofty billing.
His chances are as good as any of the top-ranked vaulters.
Also expected to figure prominently in the race to the top three are KC Lightfoot and 2016 Rio bronze medalist Sam Kendricks, who have both posted six meters in the past.
Upon arrival in Los Angeles two weeks ago, Obiena immediately set up camp in Chula Vista before taking the flight to Portland for the final push.
“EJ is already in Eugene and he’s ready,” newly-elected Philippine Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano told Daily Tribune.
Despite the presence of the big guns, Capistrano feels Obiena has genuine chances of making it all the way to the podium.
“His chances are as good as any of the top-ranked vaulters. A podium result is quite possible,” he added.