Obiena survives main scare for historic 4th SEA Video games gold

EJ Obiena wins a SEA Video games gold medal in males’s pole vault for a record-breaking fourth time to finish a roller-coaster yr in type

BANGKOK, Thailand – It might not have been the way in which EJ Obiena needed to defend his Southeast Asian Video games crown, however he nonetheless acquired the job achieved. 

Obiena received a SEA Video games gold medal in males’s pole vault for a record-breaking fourth time after a significant scare from dwelling guess Patsapong Amsamarng on the Supachalasai Nationwide Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday, December 16.

Amsamarng pushed Obiena to the restrict solely to fall brief because the Filipino star received by way of countback after they each cleared a SEA Video games file of 5.70 meters.

Obiena wanted only a single try and clear the peak, which took the Thai three tries.

“Too shut. Too shut for consolation. However I knew that entering into actually early this season. I believed I’d win with 5.65, one thing like that, 5.60. I’ve like 4 bleeding blisters entering into, so it’s what it’s. I had a bounce to do,” mentioned Obiena. 

“I hoped that it will not push me immediately, however that’s competitors.”

This marked the primary time Obiena confronted some critical resistance since he first received the occasion in 2019, when he captured the gold on dwelling soil with a then-SEA Video games mark of 5.45m. 

Obiena broke his file once more as he dominated the following two editions, clearing 5.46m in 2021 Vietnam and 5.65m in 2023 Cambodia. 

Amsamarng dragged Obiena to a mano-a-mano at 5.75m, however they each exhausted three makes an attempt on the top, paving the way in which for the Filipino to develop into the primary man to win the occasion within the SEA Video games 4 occasions.

Obiena broke his tie with fellow Filipino Ed Lasquette (1991, 1993, 1995) and Thailand’s Kreeta Sintawacheewa (2007, 2009, 2011). 

“I actually was like holding my nerves when that man, when he was leaping that final try. I’m very blissful that I’m in a position to take dwelling gold,” Obiena mentioned. 

The win mirrored his triumph in his dwelling occasion, the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Problem final September, the place he additionally received by way of countback as he beat world No. 7 Thibaut Collet of France.  

Whereas Obiena mentioned he has had “too many shut calls,” ending a roller-coaster yr that noticed him fail to succeed in the ultimate of the World Athletics Championships and fall outdoors the highest 10 on this planet rankings with back-to-back victories proved fulfilling.

“I’m in a very good path. If we had the SEA Video games earlier on and with the identical preparation that I had, I’d in all probability lose. I’m in a significantly better area. I’m more healthy. You didn’t see me limping with my again as a result of lastly, I’m pain-free,” mentioned Obiena. 

Elijah Cole delivered a one-three end for the Philippines as he acquired bronze with a 5.20m vault. – Rappler.com