‘Too close for comfort’: Obiena survives major scare for historic 4th SEA Games gold

BANGKOK, Thailand – It may not have been the way EJ Obiena wanted to defend his Southeast Asian Games crown, but he still got the job done. 

Obiena won a SEA Games gold medal in men’s pole vault for a record-breaking fourth time after a major scare from home bet Patsapong Amsamarng at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday, December 16.

Amsamarng pushed Obiena to the limit only to fall short as the Filipino star won via countback after they both cleared a SEA Games record of 5.70 meters.

Obiena needed just a single attempt to clear the height, which took the Thai three tries.

“Too close. Too close for comfort. But I knew that going in really early this season. I thought I’d win with 5.65, something like that, 5.60. I have like four bleeding blisters going in, so it is what it is. I had a jump to do,” said Obiena. 

“I was hoping that it would not push me today, but that’s competition.”

This marked the first time Obiena faced some serious resistance since he first won the event in 2019, when he captured the gold on home soil with a then-SEA Games mark of 5.45m. 

Obiena broke his record again as he dominated the next two editions, clearing 5.46m in 2021 Vietnam and 5.65m in 2023 Cambodia. 

Amsamarng dragged Obiena to a mano-a-mano at 5.75m, but they both exhausted three attempts at the height, paving the way for the Filipino to become the first man to win the event in the SEA Games four times.

Obiena broke his tie with fellow Filipino Ed Lasquette (1991, 1993, 1995) and Thailand’s Kreeta Sintawacheewa (2007, 2009, 2011). 

“I really was like holding my nerves when that guy, when he was jumping that last attempt. I’m very happy that I’m able to take home gold,” Obiena said. 

The win mirrored his triumph in his home event, the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge last September, where he also won via countback as he beat world No. 7 Thibaut Collet of France.  

While Obiena said he has had “too many close calls,” ending a roller-coaster year that saw him fail to reach the final of the World Athletics Championships and fall outside the top 10 in the world rankings with back-to-back victories proved fulfilling.

“I’m in a good path. If we had the SEA Games earlier on and with the same preparation that I had, I’d probably lose. I’m in a much better space. I’m healthier. You didn’t see me limping with my back because finally, I’m pain-free,” said Obiena. 

Elijah Cole delivered a one-three finish for the Philippines as he got bronze with a 5.20m vault. – Rappler.com