By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
EJ Obiena concluded the Athletissima pole vaulting tournament in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a joint third place finish on August 22, 2024.
Several weeks after his Paris campaign, Obiena decided to boost his international rankings back after returning to the athletic track for his first competition post-Olympics.
Obiena did well in Switzerland, sharing the third-place podium finish with Norway’s Sondre Guttorsmen and Kurtis Marschall of Australia.
The trio had an easy path cruising past 5.82 meters in just a single attempt but eventually dropped out of the gold medal contention due to fouling out in the 5.92-m height.
After clearing 5.28-m, Obiena decided to use all of his remaining attempts in the 5.92-m, but was unsuccessful in raking one that would’ve helped him advance in the next height.
The world’s no.1 ranked male pole vaulter and the reigning king of the Paris Olympics Armando Duplantis of Sweden again topped the tournament after soaring past the 6.00-m.
Sam Kendricks, the star from United States and the Paris Olympics silver medalist, placed behind Duplantis with a score of 5.92-m.
Obiena has yet to release his final timetable for upcoming tournaments, but he is currently working on bringing the world’s best pole vaulters to the Philippines on September 20, 2024.
According to Obiena, he is working hand-in-hand with his team to organize a World Athletics-sanctioned event to be held at the Makati City Ayala Triangles Garden.
