Obiena said he welcomes the lofty challenge of clearing 6.25m set by Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano after surpassing 6.0m in the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway last June 10.

It is a dare for the world No. 3 Obiena to up the ante as he looks to contend for an Olympic gold medal against an elite field of rivals in the Paris Games next year.

Among the top 10 in the world rankings, three others have also cleared the six-meter plateau this year: reigning Olympic champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden, KC Lightfoot of the USA, and Sondre Guttormsen of Norway.

“I said you have to do 6.25. That will make all of us very comfortable going towards next year,” Capistrano told PlayItRight TV when asked about what he told Obiena following his historic vault in Norway.

No pole vaulter has reached 6.25m, with Duplantis being the closest when he reset his world record by soaring past 6.22m in France last February.

But Obiena is up to the task.

“I’m up for the challenge. I know what [Capistrano] meant by that. We’re gunning for gold in Paris,” said Obiena.

“The same motivation that I have and the same goals that I have, it’s pretty good to be aligned with people with the same mindset.”

Obiena joined the six-meter club by adopting a new 20-step technique for his golden vault in the Bergen Jump Challenge, where he beat two Americans in USA record holder Lightfoot and Tokyo Games silver medalist Chris Nilsen.

Admitting that the new method – an additional two steps from his old 18-step approach – is “difficult to control,” Obiena is convinced he can still raise the bar.

“I don’t think it’s the best jump I’ve taken. It’s one of the good ones but I don’t think it’s technically the best that I can do,” he said.

Needing to surpass the entry standard of 5.82m when the Olympic qualification period begins on July 1, Obiena aims to punch his ticket to Paris as he competes in the BAUHAS-Galan in Stockholm, Sweden on July 2. – Rappler.com

Although unable to replicate his historic six-meter vault in the Bergen Jump Challenge five days ago, the Filipino star still cleared 5.81m in the Norway leg of the Diamond League to secure his fourth straight podium finish.

Obiena needed just one try in each of his first three heights as he handily leapt past 5.61m, 5.71m, and 5.81m before he committed back-to-back fouls at 5.91m.

Deciding to skip 5.91m in a bid to reset his Asian and national records at 6.01m, Obiena saw his final attempt go to waste as he failed to take off.

World record holder and reigning Olympic champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden once again lorded over the competition with a 6.01m vault.

The United States’ Chris Nilsen, who finished behind Duplantis in the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, suffered the same fate in Oslo as he recorded 5.91m for the silver.

Obiena has won medals in all four of his outdoor competitions this year.

He opened the season by completing a three-peat in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May, clinched bronze in the Irena Szewinska Memorial last June 6, and struck gold in the Bergen Jump Challenge last June 10.

The Tondo, Manila pride made history in Bergen with his 6.0m clearance, becoming just the first Asian and the 28th pole vaulter in the world all-time to hurdle the six-meter barrier.

Set to return to his home base in Formia, Italy, Obiena is expected to resume his European campaign in the Ostrava Golden Spike in Czech Republic on June 27.

Obiena will then begin his quest to earn his 2024 Paris Games berth, where he needs to surpass the 5.82m entry standard in any competition authorized by World Athletics during the Olympic qualification period starting July 1. – Rappler.com

Hours after he completed a historic 6-meter jump to win gold at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway, the 27-year-old standout took to social media to express his mixed feelings of disbelief and joy on becoming the first Asian pole vaulter to achieve the feat.

“It all started with a dream to jump over 5m and set the National Record to now be the [28th] person all-time to go over the 6m barrier and the first ever Asian/Filipino,” he wrote on Sunday, June 11.

“It took a few moments to sink in. But when it did, tears began to fall, there was no greater shoulder to cry on than my coach, Vitaliy [Petrov]. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

However, Obiena knows there is still a very long road ahead, especially with the 2024 Paris Olympics getting ever closer.

“Still a lot of work ahead and still a long season. Just happy and proud to be part of the 6m club,” he continued after leaving behind his old 5.94m record in the dust.

Obiena etched his name in the history books after a sensational run in Norway on Saturday, June 10, when he needed just a single try to clear 5.76m, 5.82m, 5.94m, and finally, the 6m threshold.

American KC Lightfoot cleared the 6m mark along with him, but ultimately settled for silver after needing two attempts to clear the bar.

Despite the record-breaking performance, Obiena indeed has a lot of boxes left to tick in his already illustrious career, including earning his first Olympic medal and getting out of the shadow of Swedish phenom Mondo Duplantis, who currently owns pole vault world record of 6.22 meters.

Up next for Obiena is the Olympic qualification period, where he needs to clear a standard 5.82 meters starting July 1 to book a trip to Paris.

– Rappler.com

Obiena finally surpassed the height he had repeatedly failed to clear in past years as he soared past 6m to capture gold in the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on Saturday, June 10.

The Filipino star hurdled 6m in just a single try to set new Asian and national records, erasing his previous mark of 5.94m he established when he bagged bronze in the World Athletics Championship in July 2022.

He tried to go for 6.06m but exhausted all of his three attempts.

KC Lightfoot of the United States also recorded a 6m-clearance but settled for silver via countback after needing two tries to make the height.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Chris Nilsen of the USA bagged bronze with 5.88m.

Obiena became just the third pole vaulter in this outdoor season to clear the six-meter bar, joining Lightfoot and world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who owns a world-leading mark of 6.11m.

It was a scintillating campaign for Obiena in Bergen as he bucked a foul in his first attempt of the tournament at 5.53m, needing just a single try to hurdle 5.76m, 5.82m, 5.94m, and ultimately, 6m.

Taking into consideration his record-shattering performance, Obiena should be a cinch for the Paris Games as he needs to clear the entry standard of 5.82m when the Olympic qualification period begins on July 1.

Obiena, who nailed bronze in the Irena Szewinska Memorial in Poland four days ago, will remain in Norway to see action in the Oslo Bislett Games on June 15. – Rappler.com

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MANILA, Philippines – EJ Obiena posted an outdoor season-best mark and finished joint third in the Irena Szewinska Memorial in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Tuesday, June 6 (Wednesday, June 7, Manila time).

The Filipino pole-vault star cleared 5.72m to share the bronze with Rio de Janeiro Olympics bronze medalist Sam Kendricks of the United States as he gears up for the qualification period for the 2024 Paris Games.

Both Obiena and Kendricks used up a single attempt in each of their previous heights before they bowed out with three fouls apiece at 5.82m.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Chris Nilsen of the United States claimed the gold by soaring a season-best 5.92m, besting home bet Piotr Lisek who settled for silver with 5.82m, also a season-best vault.

A month since completing a three-peat in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, Obiena turns his focus on punching his ticket to Paris for his second straight Olympic appearance.

The 27-year-old from Tondo, Manila needs to surpass the entry standard of 5.82m in any competition organized or authorized by the World Athletics to secure his place in Paris when the Olympic qualification period opens in July 1.

Obiena, who holds the Asian record of 5.94m, hurdled that height in four indoor events earlier this year, including a 5.91m clearance in February when he bagged bronze in the Mondo Classic in Uppsala, Sweden.

For now, though, the world No. 3 has two more tournaments lined up for the next two weeks when he competes in the Bergen Jump Challenge and Oslo Bislett Games in Norway on June 10 and 15, respectively. – Rappler.com

Rappler Talk Sports: EJ Obiena on starting his Paris 2024 Olympics bid

Obiena bared he plans to auction the customized Puma spikes he wore when he defended his SEA Games men’s pole vault throne in record-breaking fashion at the Morodok Techo National Stadium here on Monday, May 8.

Brushing aside heavy rains and an hour-long delay, the 27-year-old set a new SEA Games record with a clearance of 5.65m, which eclipsed his former mark of 5.46m he tallied in Vietnam last year.

“Hopefully, it will raise enough funds to buy some [pole vault] pit for a province in the Philippines,” Obiena told Filipino reporters.

“We need more pole vaulters in the Philippines.”

The Asian record holder said he watched a video of a kid from Tuguegarao who pursues pole vault without a landing pit and decided to take action.

“All money, all proceeds will go to buying a new pole vault pit or second-hand pole vault pit somewhere in the province,” said Obiena.

“I wish I had a lot of money. I would have just bought one,” he added with a smile. “Hopefully, we raise something for them. If not, we get some kind of pit. If we can’t get an actual size, we’ll get something.”

Starting the outdoor season with a memorable SEA Games campaign, Obiena returns to the European circuit as he competes in the Irena Szewińska Memorial in Bydgoszcz, Poland on June 6. – Rappler.com

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Dark clouds hovered over the Morodok Techo National Stadium on a rainy Monday afternoon, May 8, but it was clear as day why EJ Obiena is the Asian pole vault king.

Obiena bucked heavy rain and gusty winds as he captured his third straight gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games, shrugging off an improved field of foes in the event wherein he is practically untouchable in the region.

Breaking his own SEA Games marks of 5.46m he set last year in Vietnam, Obiena cleared 5.65m despite a rain delay of over one hour.

“This is tough. This is a different kind of challenge for sure,” he said.

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Obiena surpassed 5.20m and 5.40m before rain stopped play, forcing the pole vaulters and organizers to retreat to umbrella tents scattered all over the field.

But the delay hardly slowed down the Asian record holder as he smashed his previous SEA Games mark by clearing 5.50m then broke it three more times with clearances in 5.55m, 5.60m, and finally, 5.65m.

He roared after his final vault and took a bow before a small but loud Filipino crowd at the 75,000-seater venue.

“This rain, God-willing, it stopped when I started jumping. I couldn’t have done it like this without the crowd. All the things that happened, God’s plan. I’m just happy,” said Obiena.

Thailand’s Kasinpob Chomchanad and Patsapong Amsamaring completed the podium with silver and bronze, respectively, as they both leapt past 5.20m.

Philippine team newcomer Elijah Cole failed to clear a height as he exhausted all of his three attempts at 4.90m in his SEA Games debut. – Rappler.com

“I’m so hyped! The first time repping the Philippines across my chest is something I’ve always dreamed of,” Cole said.  

Cole quickly made an impression when he bested home bet Hokett delos Santos for the pole vault gold in the Philippine Athletics Championships in Isabela last March.

But he knows he’s still quite far from challenging Obiena, who holds the Asian record of 5.94 meters.

“EJ is miles ahead of me, and right now I feel like it’s a fight for second place,” said the 25-year-old Cole, who holds a personal-best of 5.41m.

“But I hope to be on that podium with him. There’s some other vaulters from Thailand this year that jumped 5.61m recently, but I think I can compete with him and hopefully come out on top for second. But it will be sick to compete alongside EJ!”

Filipino identity

Cole’s mother hails from Nueva Ecija, while his grandmother from his father’s side traces her roots to Leyte. 

As he represents the Philippines in the international stage, Cole said it would mean a lot to him and his family, who have raised him to be proud of his Filipino identity.

The Charlotte, North Carolina athlete also remains focused on building up his physical peak, noting that with more speed and a longer run, he can get on bigger poles and jump a lot higher.

“When the bar is up, and I’m called to jump, I remember I’m living my dream. I’m alive and well, thankful to be jumping another day,” said Cole.

“That thought makes me smile and I execute with everything I got. I hope to bring this mentality to the next level when I get the opportunity to represent the Philippines for the first time at SEA Games.”

Other Fil-Ams

As Cole focuses on the regional games, another Fil-Am remains unsure if she could see action in Cambodia even as the latest addition to the national team.

Lauren Hoffman, a 5-foot-5 hurdler whose family is from Navotas, said she has yet to obtain her Philippine passport.

“It should be coming in any day now. All I can do is wait while PATAFA (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) tries to help expedite it over here,” said Hoffman.

Coach Ed Lasquete, the 1992 Olympian who manages Hoffman under FilAm Sports, said they’re “woking on it.”

However, PATAFA secretary-general Edward Kho said the passport documents of some Fil-Am athletes like Hoffman, Angel Frank, and Danae Manibog are still being processed through the Department of Justice, admitting they might not make it in time for the competition, which is just a couple of weeks away.

“Hoping it comes before they leave for SEA Games next week,” said Hoffman. “It’s a dream of mine to compete there.”

The Duke Blue Devils alumna said her mother and grandmother, whom she regards as her biggest role models, instilled in her a strong sense of pride in her Filipino roots and taught her about the country’s traditions and culture. 

“Nothing would bring me more joy than to compete for the Philippines,” said Hoffman. – Rappler.com

Cole cleared 5.05 meters as he powered through unpredictable weather conditions, with the strong winds adding a layer of difficulty.

“It did kind of ice me a little bit, if that makes sense,” Cole said, referring to how the wind affected him.  “But luckily everything pieced together. I trusted it, enjoyed it. Everything was good. Yeah, it was scary.”

The 24-year-old Cole, a University of North Carolina alumnus, described his battle with Delos Santos as “unpredictable.”

“[Hokett] kept hitting the bars that I think he wouldn’t hit and then he would miss the bars that I thought he was going to hit. I don’t know. It was unpredictable,” said Cole.

“But ultimately I had a good time. I think he was smiling. I was smiling. We were just dealing with the worst conditions together. So it was a fun competition.”

Despite nursing a left hamstring strain, Delos Santos managed to clear 5 meters as he banked on the cheers of his fellow Ilagueños to shake off the pain and secure the silver.

“I thank the crowd because if they weren’t here, I don’t think I would’ve been able to perform well,” said Delos Santos, a Southeast Asian Games pole vault silver medalist, in Filipino.

Delos Santos’ coach, Emerson Obiena, said his ward will undergo rehabilitation before returning to action with hopes of representing the country in the SEA Games in Cambodia in May.

“We will look for tune-up competitions before the SEA Games,” said Obiena, the father of Asian record holder EJ Obiena. – Rappler.com