ERNEST John Obiena found stiff challenge from Chinese veteran Yao Jie early yesterday (Saturday in Europe) but still came out on top with a jump of 5.82 meters in the Perche en Or (Golden Perch) meet at the Stab Velodrome in Roubaix, France.
A silver medalist in the 2018 Indonesia Asian Games, Yao, 31, pressed Obiena, 27, until the 5.75-meter mark but could go no higher as he posted his personal best, good for the silver medal in the converted indoor velodrome held in the cycling city 236 kilometers northeast of Paris.
Obiena, who needed to clear 5.75 meters on his third and last try like Yao, finally took the gold on his first jump at 5.82 meters before missing the 5.90-meter mark on all three attempts en route to his first victory of the season.
