Eighteen-year-old Ernest John “EJ” Obiena shattered the Philippine national junior men’s pole vault record for the second time this year. Obiena, a sophomore at Ateneo de Manila, cleared 4.75 meters and claimed the silver medal on his second attempt in the men’s division of the 75th Singapore Open Track and Field Championships at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. Most of the events of the first and second day were canceled due to air pollution. Obiena’s mother Jeanette informed the Manila Standard of his son’s feat last Monday. Obiena surpassed his own national junior men’s record of 4.54 meters, established in the Philippine National Games at the Philsports Complex last June 2. EJ, who is on his first international stint in the senior competition, made a try of 4.83 meters, but failed in his bid. Hsieh Chia Han of Chinese Taipei took the gold after clearing 5.2 meters. Southeast Asian Games decathlon champion Vu Van Huyen of Vietnam settled for the bronze with 4.60. Jeanette Obiena added that EJ beat every single South East Asian competitor in the event. more at Manila Standard Today
