Diamond League 2023: Consistent Obiena bags bronze in Brussels meet

Consistency paved the way for Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena to continue his medal streak in Europe.

For the third straight competition, a 5.92-meter finish helped Obiena secure a podium spot as he bagged a bronze in the Brussels leg of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League at the King Baudouin Stadium on Saturday, September 9 (Manila time).

Obiena ruled two Germany tiffs for back-to-back golds with the same height clearance to somehow erase the stigma of a rare dead-last performance in the Diamond League's Zurich meet in Switzerland.

"Happy with the consistency but definitely lots of things to work on," the first-ever Filipino silver medalist in World Athletics Championships history said on social media.

"A few more days in Europe before we head to Eugene for the Diamond League Final," Obiena added as he will fly to the United States for the Oregon tournament scheduled on September 16-17.

After his US trip, Obiena, ranked number three after Sweden's Armand Duplantis and USA's Chris Nilsen, will head to Hangzhou, China for the pandemic-delayed 2022 Asian Games starting September 22.

Last July in Bangkok, Thailand, Obiena retained his Asian Athletics Championships crown with a record-breaking 5.91m leap. He will look to cement his throne in the 19th Asiad by ruling the event.

Duplantis set a new meet record in Belgium's capital as he leaped 6.10m for the gold. The reigning Olympic champion easily cleared 5.92m in one attempt before clearing 6.02m.

Meanwhile, Sam Kendricks of the USA hurdled 5.92m in one try only to beat Obiena for the silver.