There’s more work to be done for EJ Obiena, according to his famous coach. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
EJ Obiena felt a piercing pain in his back in a meet four days ago that could be a cause of great concern in future tournaments.
The Filipino pole vault star wasn’t able to podium again this weekend at the Bauhaus-Galan in Stockholm, Sweden, a high-profile competition where the world’s best showed up.
During the Oslo Bislett Games Diamond League in Oslo, Norway late last week, Obiena wound up with a “No Mark” or “No Height” after pulling his back on the first jump, affecting every subsequent attempt.
“It is the same general area. He was hurting quite a bit at that moment. We have been assessing it day to day. We do not know,” said Jim Lafferty, Obiena’s confidante.
The three-time Asian champion who defended his title in the continental meet two weeks ago suffered from that ailing back last year prior to the Paris Olympics, where Obiena ended up fourth, barely missing out on a medal.
“This is sports sometimes. We will assess over the next few days and see how it progresses,” said Obiena.
World champion Armand Duplantis, as expected, ruled the Oslo meet when Obiena hurt his back and was a dominating force again at the Bauhaus-Galan with an unmatched 6.28-meter jump, securing his eighth gold medal this year.
Asian record holder
Obiena placed seventh in Stockholm after clearing 5.70 meters behind silver medalist Kurtis Marschall of Australia (5.90m) and third-placer Menno Vloon of the Netherlands (5.80).
Vloom reached the podium with lesser attempts opposite another 5.80m performer in France’s 2012 Olympic gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie, who wound up fourth.
Daniel Keaton of the United States was fifth and Turkey’s Ersu Sasma sixth. They hurdled the same height as Obiena, but earned a higher ranking via the countback.
“It happens, that’s field events for you. You either make it or you don’t. I’m sure his team will make the necessary adjustments,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Jasper Tanhueco.
The last time Obiena had a “no mark” finish was six years ago during the 2019 Gugl Indoor Meeting in Linz, Austria.
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Obiena, the current Asian Games gold medalist who owns the continental record of six meters, hopes there will be no health hindrances when he sees action in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to September 21 and the Southeast Asian Games in December in Thailand. INQ