Work continues for Paris Olympics-bound EJ Obiena

The Philippines' and Asia's best pole vaulter Ernest John 'EJ' Obiena secured his 2024 ParisOlympics berth after clearing the Olympic entry standard height of 5.82m during the Bauhaus-Galan at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium in Sweden early Monday, July 3 (Manila time).

Obiena, however, is by no means going to rest on his laurels as he looks to keep on working especially after commiting what he said as 'rookie mistakes' in the said competition that saw him claim a silver medal.

EJ Obiena PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO

“We continue THE WORK as we still have lots to do. Made some rookie mistakes yesterday. It just shows I am still a student of the game,” wrote the Italy-based Obiena in a Facebook post on Monday night.

The 6-foot-2 Obiena, who hails from Tondo, Manila, cleared 5.72m in his second try and did the same at the 5.82m bar.

The 27-year-old, who started at 5.62m and aced it right away, skipped 5.90 and tried to surpass 5.95 but failed in all his three attempts.

Bound for his second straight Olympic stint, world no.3 Obiena finished second to reigning Olympic and world champion Armand Duplantis, who shone in his home country as he seized the gold medal with a 6.05 m clearance in just one try.

The world no.1 even tried to set a new world record of 6.23m but failed to clear the height in three attempts.

Obiena, the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the Paris Games next year, will next compete at the Meeting International de Sotteville in France on July 7.

“Punched my ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympics here in Bauhaus-Galan AKA Stockholm Diamond League and a silver medal place finish,” Obiena also wrote in the said Facebook post, which saw him thank his manager and friend James Lafferty.

“Thank you for everyone who went out and stayed under the pouring rain. Special thanks to my mentor and great friend James Lafferty for flying out to Stockholm to see me jump over some sticks.”

Podium streak alive

Obiena has not missed the podium this outdoor season starting with his conquest of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last May in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he grabbed his third straight gold medal by setting a new meet standard of 5.65m.

Obiena proceeded to hurdle 5.72m and clinch a bronze at the Memorial Irena Szewinska in Bydgoszcz, Poland on June 7 before posting a new Asian record of 6.0m in a golden performance at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on June 10.

Obiena went on to hurdle 5.81m and took a bronze medal at the Oslo Diamond League – Bislett Games in Norway on June 16.

He then cleared 5.90m for another bronze medal at the Ostrava Golden Spike in Czech Republic on June 28 before acing 5.82 in Bauhaus-Galan to claim a silver and make the Paris Games.