THOMASIAN OLYMPIAN Ernest John Obiena powered through a grueling stretch of competitions to claim silver in the men’s pole vault at the Domspringen Wesel Internationales Stabhochsprungmeeting Am Großen Markt, Willibrordi-Dom in Wesel, Germany.
The 30-year-old Asian record holder cleared 5.75 meters to add another podium finish to his outdoor season as he prepares to defend his title at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
“5.75m here is Wesel for silver,” Obiena said in a social media post. “Rough, rough day and tiredness eventually caught up after six competitions in the last 14 days. Took too many mistakes at the earlier bars and paid the price.”
Obiena had already competed in six meets since Aug. 17, emerging victorious twice at the Golden Sand in Poland and ISTAF Berlin on Aug. 30.
Obiena also punched his ticket to the World Championships on Aug. 27 after clearing 5.90 meters and finishing fifth in Zurich.
France’s Robin Emig took the gold in Wesel with a 5.80-meter clearance, while Cole Walsh of the United States settled for bronze at 5.70 meters. F
