Obiena qualifies for final round

World-rated EJ Obiena booked himself a spot in the final round of the pole vault competitions of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Obiena did 5.75 meters during the preliminaries yesterday, the same numbers posted by top pick Armand Duplantis of Sweden and the erst of the heavyweight cast.

The podium finishers will be known Sunday (Monday in Manila) with Obiena and Duplantis, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, going up against Rio Olympics champion Thiago Braz of Brazil, 2012 London Olympics titleholder Renaud Lavillenie of France, Ben Broders of Belgium, Cris Nilsen of the United States, Oleg Zernikel and Bo Kanda of Germany, Pal Haugen Liliefosse and Sondra Gutttormsen of Norway, Erso Samsa of Turkey, Menno Vloom of the Netherlands.

Obiena, 26, is the lone Asian entry in the elite final cast, something that has given the leadership of the Philippine Track and Field Association all the reason to be happy.

He also said regardless of the result, making it into the final of the biggest athletics meet is already a feat on its own.

“The sun was scorching here. The angle of the pit area is a direct hit to the sunlight. He managed to make it and I can feel his confidence,” Capistrano said.

“Whether he makes it to the podium or not, he made it into the finals. This is the best of the best athletes in the world. If you compare this to football, this is their World Cup.”

The three other Asian entries from Saudi Arabia, Japan and China, failed to make the cut for the final.

He managed to make it and I can feel his confidence.