EJ takes a nosedive
After a string of podium finishes in the European indoor pole vault circuit, EJ Obiena came crashing down after finishing 10th in the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais in France early Thursday (Manila time).
Obiena cleared 5.64 meters in his second try and in an attempt to get a better height, opted to skip 5.72m.
Unfortunately, the world No. 3 pole vaulter failed to clear past 5.82m, making his French stint his worst performance in the indoor season this year.
Since January, Obiena has finished within the top three, highlighted by wins in the Perche en Or in France last 29 January, ORLEN Cup last 5 February and the ORLEN Copernicus Cup in Poland last week.
He also got silver medals in the Internationales Springer Meeting in France last 28 January and ISTAF Indoor in Germany last 10 February and bronze in the Mondo Classic last 5 February at Uppsala, Sweden.
Armand Duplantis of Sweden once again showed why he is the top pole vaulter in the world after clearing 6.01m.
Claudio Michel Stecchi of Italy, Kurtis Marschall of Australia and Jacob Wooten all got 5.82m but the Italian vaulter took home second place after only needing one attempt to clear the height while Marschall and Wooten were tied at third place. American pole vaulter Chris Nilsen also got past 5.82m but only placed fifth after needing three attempts to get over the bar. Dutch pole vaulter Rutger Koppelaar took sixth place via countback over compatriot Menno Vloon despite both athletes reaching 5.73m.
Ben Broeders of Germany, Valentin Lavillenie of France and Obiena all got over 5.64m but Broeders got an eighth-place finish after clearing the height in one try.
Lavillenie got ninth over Obiena via countback.
“Well… that’s not how I wanted to end the indoor season. Only managed to jumped my opening height. Hate the phrase ‘it is what it is’ but IT IS what indeed IT IS. Bye indoor 2023 and back to work,” Obiena said in his social media post.
“Thank you everyone for your support!”