EJ Obiena captured his third gold medal of the year, boosting his momentum in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After a two-month break, top Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is back in action and back on the podium after bagging the gold medal in the Los Angeles Grand Prix at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 19 (PHL time).
The 28-year-old Obiena cleared 5.80 meters, marking another victory just months before the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Obiena outperformed Norway's Simen Guttormsen, who cleared 5.70 meters, as well as hometown competitors KC Lightfoot and Christopher Nilsen, who finished third and fourth with jumps of 5.70 meters.
This win continues Obiena's successful year, following his victories at the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Croatia and the ISTAF Indoor Tournament in Berlin, both in February.
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Meanwhile, Filipina-American Lauren Hoffman placed fifth in the women's 400m hurdles at the same event, finishing in 55.84 seconds.
The Virginia-born Hoffman is vying to represent the Philippines at the Summer Games and has recently returned from the Philippine National Championships.
Currently ranked in the top 40 in the world, Hoffman is in a strong position to secure an Olympic berth.
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USA's Anna Cockrell won the event with a time of 53.75 seconds, while Andrenette Knight of Jamaica and American Cassandra Tate finished second and third with times of 54.69 and 55.02 seconds, respectively.