SUMMARY
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Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena copped the country’s first medal in the 2020 Monaco Diamond League on Friday, August 14 (Saturday, August 15, Manila time).
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier recorded a personal season-best of 5.70 meters that landed him a bronze, his best finish in 3 appearances in the event.
The Diamond League started in 2010, where the world’s top athletes compete in a series of athletics events.
“This is a significant event for the Philippines and I’m proud to deliver this podium finish. Being the only Filipino to play in the Diamond League and the only one to win a medal, I am truly grateful,” said Obiena.
Obiena finished behind Belgium’s Ben Broders and Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who bagged the gold with a height of 5.94 meters.
The 24-year-old pole vaulter returned to action last August 3 in the 13th Triveneto Meet in Trieste, Italy, where he bagged a silver behind Olympic gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil.
The Diamond League is his first major tournament this year as the coronavirus pandemic postponed the World Athletics Indoor Championship and Asian Indoor Championship that were supposed to be held this year.
Obiena was the first Filipino to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, setting his personal best and Philippine record of 5.81m. He capped off his stellar 2019 with an elusive Southeast Asian Games gold in front of the home crowd. – Rappler.com
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