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| EJ Obiena finally gets a win in his Road to Tokyo. |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--EJ Obiena finally scored a gold in his buildup for the Tokyo Olympics after ruling the Golden Spike pole vault event in Ostrava, Czech Republic early Wednesday (Philippine Time).
The Filipino champion pole vaulter leaped a season best 5.74 meters, beating Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie and American Sean Kendricks.
Obiena and Lavillenie actually both cleared 5.74 meters, but Obiena clinched the tiebreaker after clearing the height before it, 5.64, in two tries. Lavillenie needed three attempts before clearing 5.64.
The same tiebreaker was used to determine the bronze medalist among Kendricks and Obiena's training partner Thiago Braz of Brazil, who both only got to clear 5.64.
Kendricks clinched third place after clearing 5.54 meters in less attempts than Braz.
Obiena has been competing all around Europe as he vies for the elusive Olympic gold in Tokyo next year.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno_
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