Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena captured the gold medal and broke a two-decade-old Asian record at the 2021 Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria, on Saturday, Sept. 11 (Sunday, Sep. 12, in the Philippines).
Despite a hurting loss in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Obiena kept his fighting spirit alive after recording a new meet record of 5.93 meters, surpassing Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich’s Asian record of 5.92 meters set in 1998.
The former University of Santo Tomas standout also improved his personal best and Philippine pole vault record of 5.91 achieved last month in the Paris Diamond League.
Prior to the result of the competition, Matt Ludwig of the United States took home the silver medal, while Ersu Sasma of Turkey settled with bronze. Both pole vaulters cleared 5.60 meters.
Before registering a historic win, Obiena faltered on his first two attempts before succeeding on his third and last attempt, winning the gold for a 5.93 meters leap.
“I wanted this (2021 Golden Roof Challenge championship) so bad. I couldn’t have done it without all of you guys,” said by an emotional Obiena.
Other pole vaulters who competed in the event were Authorized Neutral Athletes’ Timur Morgunov, Netherlands’ Menno Vloon, and Austria’s Riccard Klotz.
To recall, the 6-foot-2 Obiena placed fourth in the 2021 Diamond League in Zurich’s Stadion Letzigrund with a 5.83-meter leap. He attempted to shatter the Asian record in that event with 5.93 meters but failed on three attempts.IMT Sports
