Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena captured the silver medal at the Meeting Madrid 2026, also known as the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver.
On Thursday, Obiena achieved a season’s best height of 5.85 meters on his second attempt. He, however, failed to clear the height of 5.95 meters, which would have given him the gold.
Obiena earlier cleared the bar at 5.50 and 5.75 meters.
Portugal’s Pedro Buaro also registered 5.85 meters but was relegated to third place as he cleared the height in three attempts.
Germany’s Bo Kanda Lita Baehre topped the event after clearing 5.90 meters.
On a side note, Obiena said he wore green socks for the event.
“Green socks for the green event in Madrid,” the defending Asian Games champion wrote on his Instagram on Friday.
“5.85m for 2nd place and SB here @athleticstoures. Thank you for having us. Will get this bar next time,” he added.
Obiena came from a sixth-place finish at the Gyulai István Memorial Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary, where he cleared 5.80 meters.
He is set to defend his Asian Games championship in Nagoya, Japan later this year.
