Obiena lands fifth in France

EJ Obiena could only place fifth in the Perche’Xtrem at the Palais des Sports Caen la mer in France on Saturday (Manila time).

The Italy-based Filipino had just ruled the International Jump Meeting Cottbus alongside Menno Vloon of the Netherlands a few days ago with a jump of 5.65 meters.

He kicked off the indoor season with a bronze medal in the sixth ISTAF Dusseldorf with a 5.75 meter effort last Sunday.

Zachery Bradford of the United States won the tournament with 5.90m and qualified for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland in March.

Local pole vaulter Thibaut Collet won second place over American pole vaulter KC Lightfoot and French athlete Baptiste Thiery via countback as he cleared 5.84m in one attempt.

Obiena, a former world No. 2 in the World Athletics rankings, is aiming to hit 5.90m before the 8 March deadline to make the Polish worlds.

The two-time Olympian aims for redemption after missing last year’s World Championships in Nanjing, China but wasn’t able to hit the 5.80m standard.

“I am hoping the rest of the season would look this way. The last time I jumped around 65-70, I jumped six meters on my full approach,” said Obiena, stressing that he no longer suffers from back pain.

“I am excited and looking forward to that,” he added.