Great timing for EJ as he gears up for ‘revival’ next year
BANGKOK—EJ Obiena acknowledged after winning his fourth men’s pole vault gold in the Southeast Asian Games that the competition in this part of the region has getting tougher.
“It used to be 4.80. Now you win bronze, that’s 5.20,” Obiena said on Tuesday when he edged out Thailand’s Amsamang Patsapong at Supachalasai Stadium with a Games record of 5.70 meters, which he shared with the hometown bet who settled for silver on countback.
“Now to get second, you need to jump 5.70, in December. That’s tough,” he continued. “You win Division I in the US NCAA with that. It’s a good, respectable mark for our region.”
It was not the breeze many had expected, but Obiena and his faithful were glad to come out victorious in this Thai capital.
The gold was a feather to what Obiena had described previously a tough year, competing through a back injury and placing 11th in the qualifier of the World Championships.
Back “in a better space,” Obiena is glad that the SEA Games came when it did at this time of his year.
“If we had the SEA Games earlier on, and with the same preparation that I had, I’d probably lose,” Obiena said.
But he was glad to be on top despite “what we’re up against here and how good he is (Patsapong).
“In that aspect, I’m happy,” he said. “At the same time, I’m having too many close calls,” Obiena added. “I definitely know that a lot of people back home, probably a lot of people back in the stands, wanted to see what happens if I lose. I was close today.”
For now, Obiena is looking forward to his first Christmas at home in eight years. But he’s likely to spend New Year back on foreign soil as he plots a career revival in 2026.
“[Hoping for a] better year. Anything better than how this year has been,” he said.
