EJ finishes third

EJ Obiena officially secured enough points for the Diamond League final after getting a bronze medal in the Brussels Diamond League at the Brussels King Baudouin Stadium in Belgium Saturday.

Obiena, 27, leaped over 5.92 meters after three attempts but had to settle for third place as Sam Kendricks of the United States clinched the silver via countback.

The Italy-based Filipino also earned $3500 (P198000) for his podium finish.

World and Olympic champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden topped the event after hitting 6.10m.

World No. 2 and 2023 World Athletics Championships bronze medalist Christopher Nilsen took fourth place over fellow Americans KC Lightfoot, who placed fifth, and sixth-placer Zach McWhorter via countback despite both athletes posting 5.82m.

France's Thibaut Collet took seventh spot after tallying 5.82m while Sondre Guttormsen got eighth place over Belgium's Ben Broeders via countback despite both athletes posting 5.72m.

World Athletics Championships bronze medalist Kurtis Marschall of Australia placed last in the 10-man tournament after an effort of 5.62m.

In the Diamond League, athletes collect points every leg with the top six performers after six legs advancing to the Diamond League final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

With Obiena getting fourth place after collecting 26 points, he is set to return to the Diamond League final after missing the championship meet last year due to Covid-19.

As expected, Duplantis is on top after six legs with 45 points, Kendricks is in second place with 35 points, and Nilsen is third with 31 points.
Marschall is at fifth place with 17 points while Lightfoot sits at sixth place with 10 points.

Obiena admits there's a lot more work to be done ahead of the final.

"Happy with the consistency but definitely lots of things to work on. We have a few more days in Europe before we head to Eugene for the Diamond League Final," said Obiena as he is also gearing up for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.