ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA returns to action on Wednesday at the Jockgrim Stabhochsprung Meeting in Germany—one of seven remaining competitions that the world championships bronze medalist has lined up as he aims to finish No. 2 in the world after the outdoor season.
Obiena, whose bronze at the Oregon worlds last July earned him the No. 3 world ranking, is focused at completing the season behind world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden.
“I hold myself to the highest standards,” Obiena, 26, told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. “Hence, I’m dissatisfied with my recent performances.”
He was referring to his fourth-place finish at the Hungary Athletics Grand Prix last August 8 that followed his successful campaign in the worlds where he also reset his own Asian men’s indoor pole vault record and a podium finish at the Sielesia leg of the Diamond League last August 6 in Poland.
“No excuse for the weather conditions although it’s clear it played a major role given the number of ‘No mark’ by some of the best in the world,” said Obiena, who jumped 5.45 meters for that fourth place in Hungary.
World championships silver medalist Christopher Nilsen and Rio 2016 Olympics gold winner Thiago Braz da Silva didn’t make the grade in the rainy and windy Hungary meet.
“My goal is to end this season competing for No. 2….I know I can do it,” he said. “So it’s up to me and my pole.”
Obiena’s busy schedule for the next three-and-a-half weeks include the Athletissima in Lausanne on August 25, True Athletics Classics in Leverkusen (Germany) on August 28, St. Wendel City Jump in Germany on August 31, Memorial Van Damme in Brussels on September 2, ISTAF Berlin on September 4 and Golden Fly in Shaan, Liechtenstein, September.