EJ Obiena reset the Asian Games pole vault record twice Saturday to end Philippine athletics 37-year drought in gold from this continental championship. This was also the first gold medal for the country in this edition of the Asian Games.
The 27-year Filipino pole vaulter cleared 5.55 meters in his first attemp, clipped the bar in his first attempt at 5.75 meters but cleared it with room to spare in his end attempt at 5.75 meters—a height already above the standing 5.70-meter record set by Japan’s Yamamoto Saito in the games’ 2018 edition in Indonesia.
The level proved too high for competition, ensuring Obiena will take home the gold—the first for athletics since the late Lydia de Vega struck her second Asian Games gold in the 100-meter dash event during the 1986 edition of the games in Seoul. De Vega, hailed then as Asia’s sprint queen, died in August last year.
With top honors secured for the country, Obiena tried to set his personal best by clearing 5.90 meters—resetting the Asian record he himself set minutes earlier. He tried three times to clear the bar at 6.02 meters, but all those attempts failed.
The Olympic pole vaulter said he wanted to stop after clearing 5.90 meters, but his coach Vitaly Petrov urged him to try for 6.02 meters. He agreed, hopeful a successful attempt would be his gift for Petrov who will celebrate his birthday next week.
Obiena was aware of the hype built around his participation, with no less than Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino assuring the pole vaulter will win the Asian Games gold.
“I think we were able to do what we needed to do, to bring back the gold for the country, which is the most important thing,” Obiena told reporters after his record-setting feat. “It’s a privilege to be in this position where the whole country is literally expecting for gold…Thank God I didn’t crack,” he added.
Other competitions have been set before the Paris Olympics next year, but Obiena said he won’t think about those tournaments. “I’m resting,” he added.
Huang Bokai of China was given the silver while Hussain Al Hizam of Saudi Arabia got bronze following a count back after both pole vaulters cleared 5.65 meters.
