September 22, 2025
MANILA – Buoyed by the home crowd, EJ Obiena put on a show by delivering the gold medal in the World Pole Vault Challenge on Sunday at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.
Obiena cleared 5.80 meters in just two attempts, nipping France’s Thibault Collet for the gold via countback. Poland’s Piotr Lisek bagged the bronze after clearing 5.60m.
Hokett Delos Santos, the other Filipino in the nine-man field who earned his spot after winning the National Pole Vault Challenge on Saturday, failed to reach the second phase of the competition.
Ben Broeders of Germany, who was among those expected to contend for the gold, was forced to withdraw from the competition due to back spasms.
The victory was much needed for Obiena, who bounced back after a poor showing in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where he failed to reach the final.