AGAINST A defiant home bet, EJ Obiena displayed his resolve to defend his throne and to outdo himself.
The two-time Olympian and Thomasian pole vaulter not only set a new Southeast Asian (SEA) Games record but also claimed his fourth consecutive gold in the tournament’s 33rd iteration on Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Obiena cleared 5.70 meters in just one leap to shatter the previous record of 5.65m he set in Cambodia a couple of years ago.
But the victory did not come easy, as home bet Amsamarng Patsapong also cleared the same height. However, the Thai athlete had to settle for a runner-up finish via countback after taking three tries.
In a final bid for the top spot, both athletes tried to surpass 5.75m but failed to do so.
Early in the contest, the Filipino ace breezed past 5.35m before needing two jumps at 5.45m. He then got into form to clear 5.55m and 5.65m with a single attempt each.
Fellow Filipino athlete Elijah Kevin Cole closed out the podium with a 5.20m clearance, completing a double-medal finish for the Philippines. F
