By el Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena added another international title to his growing list of achievements after capturing the gold medal at the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany, recently, with a first-attempt clearance of 5.83 meters.
Obiena secured the top podium finish through the countback rule after Egyptian vaulter Seifeldin Abdelsalam also cleared 5.83 meters but needed three attempts to do so. Under international athletics rules, the athlete with fewer misses at the winning height is declared the victor when competitors finish with the same mark.
The victory marks another strong showing for the world-class Filipino athlete as he continues his preparations for the remainder of the 2026 outdoor season against a competitive international field.
Although 5.83 meters proved enough to clinch the gold medal, Obiena continued his pursuit of a higher clearance. In a video shared on his Instagram Story, the two-time Olympian was seen attempting 5.93 meters, accompanied by the caption, “Still chasing,” reflecting his determination to push beyond his winning mark.
Obiena has consistently remained among the world’s elite pole vaulters, using European competitions to sharpen his form while pursuing higher clearances and additional international victories.
His latest triumph adds another gold medal to an already impressive 2026 campaign and reinforces his status as one of the Philippines’ brightest hopes in world athletics.
elamigo/xf
