ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA is on a roll following his gold medal conquest at the NetAachen Domspringen on Friday in Katschhof in Aacehn in Germany.
Obiena won at 5.92 meters—the same height he cleared in ruling the ISTAF Berlin in Germany three days ago—thus obliterating his 10th and last-place finish at the Wanda Diamond League Zurich leg only four days after he claimed silver at the world championships in Budapest.
Sam Kendricks targeted 5.92m but missed. He went for 6.02m twice and also missed. His best jump at 5.87m made the American settle for the bronze medal.
France’s Thibaut Collet clinched the bronze medal at 5.82m in the competition that lured 15 pole vaulters.
“The mental battle between EJ [Obiena] and Sam Kendrick was amazing,” Obiena’s personal adviser Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “Both going for the win, using passes as a tactical and mental tool to out-duel each other.”
Trying to outduel each other the 27-year-old Obiena and Kendricks did as the tournament warmed them up for the windup of the Wanda Diamong League—the last leg in Brussels on Saturday and the star-studded final on September 16 and 17 in Eugene, Oregon, site of Obiena’s bronze medal finish in last year’s world championships.
“Wow! The crowd was treated to a truly world class competition,” Lafferty said of the Obiena-Kendricks showdown.
Obiena now has 19 podium finishes in 21 tournaments—indoor and outdoor—he has competed in this season.
Obiena warmed his heels at 5.55, got to 5.75 in his second attempt and hit 5.92 in one attempt.
He tried 6.02 to beat his personal and Asia’s best 6.0 but failed thrice.
“Adversity forms character and EJ has endured more adversity than most,” Lafferty said. “He is one tough competitor.And last night showed once again how tough he is. He had very little to do with pole vaulting and was more about who has more nerves of steel.”
After Eugene, Obiena will fly to Hangzhou to go for his first Asian Games gold medal.
Obiena flies to another gold in Germany
Source: News Paper Radio
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