Obiena triumph puts World Championship in crosshairs
EJ Obiena took a significant step toward securing a place in the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The Filipino pole vault star inched closer to qualification for the world indoors in Nanjing, China, set for March 21 to March 23, after clearing 5.80 meters to clinch gold at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland, on Monday.
The China result marked his best performance of the year as he continues his push for qualification to the world meet.
“We were hoping to get 5.85 and secure an automatic spot, but EJ is still refining his rhythm and steps,” said Jim Lafferty, Obiena’s adviser and confidante.
“It will come. Overall, we’re pleased—he won, set a season’s best and continues improving. He’s on the right track,” Lafferty added.
The world’s No. 4 vaulter bested nine competitors, including Poland’s Piotr Lisek, who took silver at 5.70m. Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen also cleared 5.70m but settled for bronze via countback.
“This was a high-level ‘gold’ meet designation by World Athletics, featuring a world-class field with three six-meter vaulters,” Lafferty noted.
A member of the elite six-meter club himself, Obiena rebounded from a disappointing seventh-place finish in last week’s Istaf Indoor meet in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Second gold
The two-time Olympian secured his second gold of the indoor season, adding to his three-medal tally in four meets. He opened the season with silver at the International Springer-Meeting Cottbus in Germany on Jan. 30 before striking gold at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlétor in France with a 5.70m clearance.
“He was smart in choosing when to jump and when to pass, conserving energy for the later rounds. Clearing 5.80m on his final attempt was a clutch performance, resetting his season’s best early in the indoor season,” said Lafferty.
To seal his world indoors spot, Obiena now sets his sights on clearing the 5.85m qualification standard in upcoming competitions.
He has yet to win a medal at the World Indoor Championships, finishing ninth last year in Glasgow, Scotland, in a competition dominated by world champion Armand Duplantis.
