'Leap of faith!': EJ Obiena 'grateful' as he overcomes foggy conditions to win Taiwan tiff

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena overcame foggy conditions and his compatriots in his gold medal win in the Taiwan International Pole Vault Championships at the Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan.

Obiena cleared 5.50 meters, enough to reach the top of the Taiwan tilt, opening his outdoor season with a win. Fellow Pinoys Hokket Delos Santos went over 5.15 meters, while Francis Allen Sillar finished at 3.91m.

The Filipino Olympian shared on Instagram his experience after he took a "leap of faith" due to the fog.

READ: EJ Obiena competes despite heavy fog: ‘Leap of faith!’

"During several of the many flights I have taken to compete in Pole vault around the world, I have indeed encountered fog warnings at the airport where you can see very little. Well I had a new experience a few days ago," said Obiena.

"I had my first fog warning in the midst of a pole vault competition, in Taiwan," he went on. "Here (3rd slide) is what the approach looked like heading towards the vault. You just disappear. Talk about the proverbial “Leap of faith”!"

READ: EJ Obiena shifts priority to outdoor season: ‘I believe my best vaults are ahead’

In the same post, Obiena said he was grateful as his "leap of faith" was successful despite the "murky" situation.

"Well I decided to go for it and place my leap of faith in God’s hand. I am thankful to have won the competition under such “murky” conditions! 😂"

This was Obiena's third win this year after ruling Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland and the Metz Moselle Athelor in France.

Matt Ludwig of the United States claimed silver after notching 5.30 meters in his jump.