KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Another good jump, but another heartbreak for EJ Obiena.

Obiena fell victim to the cruel rule of countback anew and settled for third place for the second straight time in the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzow, Poland Saturday.

Both Obiena and Norway’s Sondre Guttomorsen cleared similar 5.73 meters but the former did it on his second try while latter needed only one attempt to hurdle the barrier to finish second.

And Swede Mondo Duplantis?

He was simply fantastic.

Duplantis further galvanized his status as the greatest pole vaulter of his era with another record-breaking performance.

Fresh from rewriting the world record during last month’s World Athletics Championships in the US, Duplantis topped the event in 6.10 meters, good enough to erase the previous best of 6.00m.

Like a man on a mission, Duplatis cleared the 5.63-meter barrier with ease before hurdling 5.83, and 6.00m.

Both Obiena and Guttomorsen tried 5.83m but failed.

This marked Obiena’s ninth podium finish – sixth in the outdoor competition.

Prior to the Poland tournament, Obiena completed a historic bronze in the world meet where he cleared 5.94m to shatter his own PH and Asian mark of 5.93-meter.

Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen beat Obiena for the silver via the countback.

EJ Obiena settles for bronze – no thanks to countback

KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Another good jump, another bronze for pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

But like the last time, Obiena fell victim to the cruel rule of countback as he settled for third place for the second straight time in the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzow, Poland Saturday.

Both Obiena and Norway’s Sondre Guttomorsen cleared similar 5.73 meters but the former did it on his second try while latter needed only one attempt to hurdle the barrier to finish second.

And Swede Mondo Duplantis?

He was simply fantastic.

Duplantis further galvanized his status as the greatest pole vaulter of his era with another record-breaking performance.

Fresh from rewriting the world record during last month’s World Athletics Championships in the US, Duplantis topped the event in 6.10 meters, good enough to erase the previous best of 6.00m.

Like a man on a mission, Duplatis cleared the 5.63-meter barrier with ease before hurdling 5.83, and 6.00m.

Both Obiena and Guttomorsen tried 5.83m but failed.

This marked Obiena’s ninth podium finish – sixth in the outdoor competition.

Prior to the Poland tournament, Obiena completed a historic bronze in the world meet where he cleared 5.94m to shatter his own PH and Asian mark of 5.93-meter.

Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen beat Obiena for the silver via the countback.