EJ Obiena misses podium in Greece but sets season-best mark

FILE–Two-time Olympian EJ Obiena during the Pole Vault Challenge in Makati.

MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena still found a reason to celebrate despite missing out on a medal in the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault tournament at Panathenaic Stadium in Greece.

Despite coming up empty-handed, Obiena was able to clear the 5.80m bar for the first time this season.

“I have not seen you 5.80m bar in a while… I have missed you,” wrote Obiena, who was coming off back-to-back gold medals in Austria and Poland, in an Instagram post after his 5.81m clearance wasn’t enough for a top-three finish.

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“I have vaulted in lots of different venues but this is just pure picturesque. Vaulting in front of the Panathenaic stadium is a day to remember. Thank you very much for having me.”

The two-time Olympian finished in four-way tie for fourth place alongside the Netherlands’ Menno Vloon, Turkey’s Ersu Şaşma and France’s Baptiste Thiery, who all hurdled 5.81m.

American powerhouse Christopher Nielsen won gold via countback upon clearing 5.91m while Thibaut Collet of France clinched the silver.

Greece’s Emmanuil Karalis were among those who posted 5.81m but he went on to bag the bronze via countback.