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| EJ Obiena broke his own Asian Games record with literally his last attempt. POC Media Pool |
MANILA—EJ Obiena already knew he had won the Asian Games men's pole vault tournament again after beating a pair of Chinese contenders.
However, he used his supposed last attempt to deliver one lasting memory in Nagoya.
With literally his last shot, Obiena shattered his own Asian Games record, clearing 5.91 meters to create a huge gap over Yao Jie and Li Chenyang, who both could only make it past 5.7.
Obiena eventually clinched the gold by being the only pole vaulter to clear 5.75 meters, but Li, who fouled on his first attempt at that height, tried to challenge his Filipino opponent at 5.8 in hopes of stealing it from him.
The gamble did not pay off as Li missed his only two attempts at 5.8, giving Obiena, who had also fouled twice already at that point, the gold.
However, Obiena decided to skip his last attempt at 5.8 meters to give the Asian Games record a try, and the one shot at new glory succeeded as he easily cleared the height.
He then gave a shout that was heard all around the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in celebration.
Obiena's record-breaking jump also matched his season-best that he set last month at the Golden Sand in Miedzyzdroje, Poland.
Meanwhile, instead of possibly toppling Obiena for the gold, Li dropped to third place as Yao got the better of him on countback for silver.
Both clearing 5.6 and 5.7 meters in one try, Yao took the second spot as he made it past 5.5 in just one try, while Li needed two attempts to move up from that height.
Meanwhile, Victoria Bossong added a bronze to the Philippine team's haul by placing third in the women's 800-meter run final.
Bossong, who ran the fastest in the heats, settled for third after clocking in at two minutes and 5.34 seconds, behind eventual champion Wu Hongjiao (2:04.49) and silver medalist Nelly Korir (2:05.16).
