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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider EJ Obiena matches season-best to capture Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge

EJ Obiena matches season-best to capture Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge

Published Sep 21, 2025 05:10 pm

At A Glance

  • EJ Obiena delighted the home crowd by capturing the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the rain-soaked Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City on Sunday, Sept. 21.
EJ Obiena delighted the home crowd by capturing the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the rain-soaked Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City on Sunday, Sept. 21.
EJ Obiena clears the bar during the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge on Sunday, Sept. 21. (Mark Balmores/MB)
EJ Obiena clears the bar during the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge on Sunday, Sept. 21. (Mark Balmores/MB)
The two-time Olympian cleared the bar at 5.80 meters to match his season-best performance, outshining fellow Olympian Thibaut Collet via countback after the Frenchman registered identical height.
It was Obiena’s first international title on home soil. Making the victory all the more memorable was winning it before a large, energetic audience, who stayed despite the downpour at the start of the event.
“I’m really happy with this win. It’s a really good way to end the season and a fairytale finish, I would say,” said Obiena.
The Philippine and Asian record holder started his height at 5.45m, which he cleared with ease, then cruised to 5.60m. He needed two attempts to clear 5.70m and 5.80m.
He tried for 5.85m twice and 5.90m once, but was unsuccessful.
Collet, who was coming off a fifth-place finish at last week’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, needed three tries to clear 5.80m.
World No. 15 Piotr Lisek of Poland bagged the bronze with 5.60m in this tournament rated Bronze in the World Athletics Continental Tour.
Obiena admitted he was pressured to deliver before home fans.
“I’m not used to competing at home, but it’s a unique experience. It definitely made it so much more than what I actually dreamed of,” he said.
Some of the world’s best saw action in the event that included world No. 5 Ersu Sasma of Turkey, who finished fourth with 5.45m, followed by American Olympian Matt Ludwig (5.45m), two-time Olympian Oleg Zernikel of Germany (5.30m), world No. 14 and reigning American champion Austin Miller (5.30m). world No. 13 Ben Broeders of Belgium and world No. 6 Menno Vloon of the Netherlands also saw action.
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