FILIPINO pole vaulter EJ Obiena finally hurdled a personal milestone when he cleared five meters at the 21st Taiwan Nantou Indoor International Pole Vault Championship in Nantou, Taiwan. The vault of five meters was set by Obiena in the Men’s International Division in the championship. In the process he also erased a pair of Philippine records by setting a new junior indoor record and a new men indoor record (the former record is 4.93 meter). He also became only the second Filipino to clear five meters with Fil-Am Edward Lasquete being first at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Obiena confessed that he was humbled by his accomplishment and expressed both surprise and elation. “It was awesome! I’ve been dreaming of this since I started pole vaulting and at last I have cleared the five-meter barrier,” said the 18-year-old Obiena who continues to improve every year. Last year he cleared 4.9 meters in the men’s open pole event of the 2013 Hong Kong Intercity Athletic Challenge at the Tseung Kwan O sports ground. Just a week before setting that record Obiena cleared 4.75 meters and claimed the silver medal in the men’s division of the 75th Singapore Open Track and Field Championships at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore. more
