A Filipino pole vaulter will be seeing action in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena pulled off the magnificent feat after he cleared 5.81 meters in a tournament in Chiara, Italy late Tuesday, an inquirer.net report said.
In completing the feat, the reigning Asian champion broke his own personal best and national record of 5.76 meters achieved early this year plus a sure seat in the national team bound for Tokyo, according to athletics chief Philip Ella Juico.
Juico relayed that Obiena’s attempt surpassed the Olympic standard of 5.80 meters.
The 6-foot-1 Obiena cleared the height on his third and last attempt, beating five other rivals for the gold medal, the report said.
