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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider EJ Obiena overcomes Thai challenge for fourth straight pole vault gold

EJ Obiena overcomes Thai challenge for fourth straight pole vault gold

Published Dec 16, 2025 08:52 pm

At A Glance

  • BANGKOK – EJ Obiena defended his title and claimed a fourth straight gold medal in the pole vault competitions as the Philippine athletics bested its previous medal haul in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Suphachalasai National Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 16 here.
BANGKOK – EJ Obiena defended his title and claimed a fourth straight gold medal in the pole vault competitions as the Philippine athletics bested its previous medal haul in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Suphachalasai National Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 16 here.
The former world No. 2 pole vaulter soared to a Southeast Asian Games record of 5.70 meters to win the gold but not without a challenge from hometown bet Amsamarng Patsapong.
Obiena actually shared the meet record with his Thai counterpart but won the gold medal via countback. The Filipino star only needed one attempt to clear the bar while Patsapong achieved the same height after three tries.
Obiena and Patsapong both tried to clear 5.75 but failed.
Fil-American pole vaulter Elijah Cole bagged the bronze after clearing 5.20m.
With Obiena’s victory, the Philippine athletics team has now bagged five golds, surpassing its previous haul in the 2023 edition when it only copped four.
The other gold medalists were John Cabang Tolentino in the men’s 110m hurdles, Hokett Delos Santos in decathlon, Naomi Cesar and Hussein Loraña in the men’s and women’s 800m race.
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