Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena showcased a triumphant comeback, securing the gold medal at the ISTAF Berlin in Germany.
After a momentary lapse in form that resulted in a 10th-place finish at the Weltklasse Zurich just three days prior, Obiena clinched victory on Sunday, September 3 with an impressive 5.92-meter clearance.
Despite initial struggles, missing on his first two attempts, Obiena made the mark on his final try.
This win marks a significant moment for him, having previously missed out on the top spot in past ISTAF Berlin competitions.
Obiena’s journey in this event saw him rank 10th in 2019, fourth in 2021, and narrowly missing the gold with a second-place finish in 2022.
This recent victory adds another medal to Obiena’s impressive tally, making it 12 out of 13 in the current outdoor season.
“Finally got this outdoor trophy after so many years of coming up short,” he expressed in a Facebook post.
While Obiena celebrated his win, Sondre Guttormsen of Norway and KC Lightfoot of the United States rounded out the podium.
Both vaulters reached 5.82m, but Guttormsen secured the silver over Lightfoot based on countback.
Notably, former Olympic medalists Chris Nilsen and Sam Kendricks finished in fourth and ninth places, respectively.