ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA settled for a silver medal in his first indoor campaign at the Internationales Springer-Meeting on Thursday in Cottbus, Germany.
But no regrets for the world No. 3 as his 5.77-meter effort was second-best to the 5.82 meters of American Sam Kendricks, a two-time world champion and bronze medalist at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.
“I think it’s a great start to the season against a world-class field,” Jim Lafferty, Obiena’s confidante and coach, said. “Only Sam Kendrick, an Olympic medalist and former world champion, beat him.”
Obiena’s father Emerson, himself a former pole vaulter, agreed with Lafferty.
“I think there will be more adjustments to make although his performance is not bad as he only used 18 steps,” the elder Obiena said. “If he adds some few steps, I think he can do better.”
Obiena, 27, targeted 5.82 but missed thrice.
“If you look at his last attempt at 5.82, which is ahead of the Olympic qualifying standard, it’s just some minor adjustments which will come as the season progresses,” Lafferty said. “It’s a great start to the indoor season.”
Belgium’s Ben Broeders and Gillian Ladwig cleared 5.72 meters but Broeders clinched bronze after the countback.
Ten male pole vaulters participated at the Cottbus meet which also featured a women’s long jump competition.
Up next for Obiena is the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships set February 10 to 12 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.
Obiena has yet to win a medal at the Asian indoors although he owns a gold and a bronze medal from the Asian championships in Doha 2019 and Bhubaneswar, India, in 2017.