COMING off a dismal outing in the Wanda Zurich Diamond League last week, Ernest John Obiena was back in top form early yesterday morning (Sunday night in Europe), ruling the men’s pole vault event of the outdoor ISTAF Berlin meet for the first time with a jump of 5.92 meters at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Obiena, who wound up 10th and last in Zurich, displayed renewed determination to beat an elite field for his first title after three unsuccessful bids in the World Athletics Continental Silver Tour event.
He nailed the gold medal on his third and final jump, separating himself from closest pursuers Sondre Guttormsen of Norway and KC Lightfoot of the United States.
Guttormsen and Lightfoot both cleared 5.82 meters, with the Norwegian taking runner-up honors on the countback.
Lightfoot’s compatriot, Chris Nilsen, a bronze medalist in the last World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, finished fourth after clearing 5.72 meters, beating Turkish Ersu Sasma and Greek’s Emmanouil Karalis on the countback as well.
“It was a good day. Finally got this outdoor trophy after so many years of coming up short,” Obiena said on his official Facebook account yesterday shortly after his performance, accompanied by a picture of himself smiling and draped in the country’s national flag.
“Finally @istaf_indoor trophy would have his bigger brother, @istaf_berlin throphy after 3 years. Maybe a bit more wait because berlino needs to stay with @caro_joyeux …we have no luggage space when flying low-cost airlines,” added Obiena, referring to his Berlin-based German girlfriend, who will keep the trophy in the meantime.
“Happy for today and we go back at it in 3 days,” said Obiena, who did not say what his next competition would be.
The Paris Olympics-bound Obiena, who bagged the silver medal in the world meet in the Hungarian capital over a week ago, needed seven jumps to claim the mint, opening his bid at 5.52 meters.
He cleared 5.72 on his second and 5.82 meters on his first attempt, which Guttormsen and Lightfoot also cleared on their second jumps.
Obiena settled the issue on his third jump at 5.92 meters while his closest foes missed the height on all three attempts.
As the last man standing, the lanky Pinoy vaulter tried to set a new Asian and national record at 6.01 meters but failed in three attempts.
