Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena continued his strong 2026 campaign after ruling the ISTAF Berlin at the Olympiastadion in Germany.
The 30-year-old two-time Olympian cleared 5.82 meters to top the 10-man field and claim his ninth gold medal of the season.
Belgium’s Ylio Philtjens and France’s Robin Emig both cleared 5.72 meters, with Philtjens taking silver and Emig bronze on countback.
Obiena cleared 5.62 meters on his second attempt before successfully clearing 5.82 meters. He then went for 5.97 meters, but failed in all three attempts.
The Filipino’s latest victory came just days after he cleared 5.90 meters at the Diamond League in Zurich, a mark that secured his qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China.
Obiena is now turning his attention to his next competition in Brussels, Belgium, before the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, which begin on September 20.
He is also the defending Asian Games champion, having won gold in Hangzhou in 2023 with a 5.90-meter clearance.
(Photo Courtesy: AFP)
