EJ Obiena bags 1st indoor gold for 2023

EJ Obiena struck gold in France. Reuters (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--EJ Obiena got a quick breakthrough at the start of his 2023 campaign after winning it all in the Perche En Or pole vaulting competition early Sunday (Philippine Time) in Roubaix, France.

Obiena beat China's Yao Jie for the top prize after clearing 5.82 meters on his first try. Obiena tried to go 5.9 but to no avail.

Yao could only clear 5.75 meters to settle for the silver, but there is something for him to be happy about as he set his new personal best.

Obiena could see Yao again in Kazakhstan as the world number three is set to compete there for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships next month.

Meanwhile, host country France assured itself of a podium finish as three Frenchmen, namely Ethan Cormont, Robin Emig, and Mathieu Collet, all cleared a maximum of 5.65 meters for a tie in third place.

After the countback was made, Cormont bagged the bronze medal.

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