Ernest John Obiena pole vaulted to 5.81 meters in a meet in Italy on Tuesday to become the first Filipino athlete to secure a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Obiena, 23, passed the Olympic-qualifying standard by a centimeter during his campaign at the Salto Con L’asta meet in Chiara, Italy.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Philip Ella Juico confirmed Obiena’s Olympic berth-clinching stint.
The national team mainstay eclipsed his own national record of 5.76 m he set at the World Universiade in Napoli also in Italy last April.
“I would like to congratulate EJ for qualifying. May his qualification be a source of inspiration for our other athletes who are seeking a berth in 2020 Olympics,” Philippine Chief of Mission to Tokyo 2020 Nonong Araneta said.
Obiena copped the gold medal in the tournament, while Thibaut Collet (5.56 m) of France and Huang Bokay (5.56 m) of China took silver and bronze, respectively.
The Filipino tried to clear the 5.92 m Asian record of Igor Potapovich but failed after three attempts.
Obiena has been in a steady progress this year. He also clinched gold at the Jump and Fly Baxter Meet in Germany early this year.
The reigning Asian champion also saw action in the International Alliance of Athletics Federations Diamond League in Zurich, Switzerland, and is scheduled to compete in the World Championships in Doha later this month.
He is a favorite to win the gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the country is hosting at the world-class New Clark City Athletics Stadium in December.