ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA symbolically planted his 16-foot USC pole on German soil with the country’s colors proudly waving on the top end following his victory at the PSD Athletics Indoor meet in Dortmund on Sunday (early morning Monday in Manila).
Obiena was a little below his elements in Dortmund and cleared 5.68 meters but still snatched the pole vault gold medal, his second straight in his three-day German sortie.
The Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena cleared 5.80m to rule the ISTAF Indoor Athletics in Berlin on Saturday, resetting his own national record in the process. Before Berlin, he warmed up at the Karsruhe World Indoor Tour also in Germany with 5.62 meters that landed him in fifth place—yet again good enough for him to reset the national record a first time.
But Obiena couldn’t take calls or answer texted messages right after his conquest in Berlin.
The reason? He and a fellow Italian athlete had to take turns on the wheel as they motored to their next competition in France—the World Indoor Tour Lievin on Tuesday (Manila time).
“EJ will have to drive by land to France and take turns with his Italian friend,” his father, Emerson, told BusinessMirror. “They cannot take the train—which would be quicker—because they are bringing their poles with them.”
Lieven is a good 397 kms and five hours of driving from Dortmund.
“He’s going to France right now so he’ll be using his remaining time for recovery and rest because it’s competition time again for EJ,” Emerson Obiena said.
“I asked him to sleep very well. He needs all the rest to be ready for Lievin,” he added. “If he needs massage or therapy, I told him to go for it.”
German Oleg Zernikel and Torben Blech both cleared 5.65m to settle for the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in Dortmund.
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