Tokyo Olympics-bound Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and training partner Olympic champ Thiago Braz of Brazil shared the top honors Sunday in the True Athletes Classics in Leverkusen, Germany.
Both cleared 5.8 meters on their second attempts in the men’s pole event to win the gold medal.
For Obiena, this was his second first place finish in two weekends.
They both tried 5.9 meters, with Obiena setting a new Philippine record if he succeeded.
Unfortunately, none of them cleared the height in their three attempts.
Germany’s Bo Kanda Lita Baehre took the bronze after he reached 5.80m on his third try, while Olympic-bound Oleg Zernikel of Germany was fourth with 5.65m.
Last week, Obiena cleared 5.85 meters on his third attempt and set a new Philippine outdoor record for the gold medal in the Jump and Fly competition in Mossingen, Germany.