EJ Obiena claims ISTAF Berlin gold after dead-last stint in Zurich meet

Ernest John "EJ" Obiena bounced back from his first podium miss this outdoor season after ruling the men's pole vault in the 2023 ISTAF Berlin at the Olympiastadion in Germany on Monday, September 4 (Manila time).

Redeeming himself from a dead-last finish in the Zurich leg of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League last Friday, Obiena cleared 5.92 meters in his third attempt for the gold.

The Filipino pole vaulting ace shrugged off Norway's Sondre Guttormsen and the United States of America's KC Lightfoot, who both tried to clear the 5.92-meter bar but failed in three tries.

Guttormsen settled for silver behind his 5.82m performance, while Lightfoot placed third despite clearing the same height as the Norwegian due to countback.

On social media, the 27-year-old Tokyo 2020 Olympian shared how happy he was with the achievement after falling short in the previous two editions of the annual athletics track and field meet in 2021 and 2022.

"It was a good day…Finally got this outdoor trophy after so many years of coming up short."

"Happy for today and we go back at it in 3 days." Obiena concluded.

USA's Chris Nilsen, the bronze winner in the recent world championship, ended up fourth behind his 5.72m leap, while back-to-back titlist Armand "Mondo" Duplantis of Sweden skipped the competition, which he topped last year.

Obiena, the Asian record holder, won the Philippines' maiden silver in the world championships by matching his career-best 6.00m in Budapest, Hungary. He joined the elite six-meter club in June 2023 in the Bergen Jump Challenge.

However, his medal streak ended in the Zurich tiff a few days ago after finishing 10th in the 10-man field.

Gladly, Obiena returned strong with a title in his hand.