EJ Obiena now world's No. 2 in men's pole vault rankings
Filipino athlete EJ Obiena is now No. 2 in the men's world pole vault rankings.
Obiena, who was previously No. 3, gained 1,432 points, outdoing America's Chris Nilsen who got 1,428.
Sweden's Mondo Duplantis remained on top with 1,569 points.
"Your very own skinny kid from Tondo, alumni of (Chang Kai Shiek College) and (University of Santo Tomas), is now WORLD NUMBER TWO," Obiena wrote in a Facebook post.
The 27-year-old thanked everyone "who made this possible," as well as those "who went to war" so he can "continue this dream."
"This is not just my accomplishment alone, but everyone’s," Obiena said. "Maraming salamat Pilipinas sa pagkakataon na iwagayway ang iyong diwa."
"This dreamer dares to dream," he added.
Obiena previously bagged gold at the Southeast Asian Games last May, his third one in the biennial meet, after clearing a new record 5.65m.
In June, he joined the exclusive "six-meter club" after clearing 6.0m at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway, the first Filipino and Asian to do so.
Last July, he qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after clearing 5.82m at the Stockholm Diamond League - Bauhaus Galan in Sweden.
