For the first time in 2 years, Filipino pole vault ace Ernest John “EJ” Obiena soared past the 5.90m height.
Obiena made a 5.91m clearance for a meet record and the gold medal at the Golden Sand in Miedzyzdroje, Poland Tuesday in Manila.
Obiena last cleared 5.90m at the Paris Olympics where he aced that height but narrowly missed on a podium finish.
With this 5.91m season-best, Obiena snared his third consecutive gold medal and eighth overall this year after a tough 2025 season.
Obiena started his gold streak at the Halberstadter Hohenflug where he cleared 5.76m on August 1 in Germany.
In the same country, Obiena took his second straight gold at the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim where he cleared 5.83m.
“I haven’t been up here for some time,” wrote Obiena on his social media pages, alluding to his 5.91m clearance.
“5.91m here in Międzyzdroje for the gold and a new meeting record. Thank you very much Golden Sand for having me. Happy to finally be back over a 90 bar.”
Obiena’s 5.91m clearance is also his highest since his 5.97m gold medal performance at the 2024 Irena Szewinska Memorial in Poland.
The 31-year-old Obiena holds the Asian record of 6.0m clearance.
Qatari Seifeldin Abdelsalam finished second to Obiena after rising above 5.75m to claim the silver medal.
American Cole Walsh placed third and took the bronze medal with a 5.70m clearance, beating Saudi Arabian Hussain Al-Hizam via countback.
