On April 21, Easter Sunday, Ernest John “EJ” Obiena gifted the country its first gold medal in pole vault in 100 years when he leaped to a record 5.71 meters during the 23rd Asian Athletic Championships held in Doha, Qatar.

The soon-to-be 24-year old Tondo boy son of former pole vault great Emerson and hurdler Jeanette Obiena, duplicated the feat of Antonino Alo, who was the first Filipino to rule the event during the IV Far Eastern Games held in Manila in 1919.