Filipino pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena opened his European campaign with a solid fifth-place finish at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands, on Monday, June 9 (local time).
Season-Best Effort, Tough Competition
Obiena cleared a season-best height of 5.66 meters, successfully vaulting on his first attempt at that bar. However, a countback placed him behind American Keaton Daniel and China’s Tao Zhong, who both also cleared 5.66 meters but had fewer misses at earlier heights.
The Filipino pushed for more, attempting to clear 5.74 meters, but was unable to convert in three tries. The podium was swept by American athletes, with Olympic silver medalist Christopher Nilsen taking gold with a 5.82-meter vault. KC Lightfoot secured silver at 5.74 meters, while Daniel and Zhong shared the bronze.
Looking Ahead
Though he missed the podium, Obiena’s performance was a positive sign as he builds toward major international meets. He recently defended his Asian pole vault title in South Korea, where he cleared 5.77 meters in a thrilling jump-off against China’s Huang Bokai — proving he remains a dominant force in the region.
Next up for the world No. 4 vaulter are the Bislett Games in Oslo on June 12, followed by the Bauhaus-Galan in Stockholm on June 15. Both meets are part of the prestigious Diamond League circuit and will offer Obiena more opportunities to test himself against elite global competition.
At 29, Obiena continues to represent the Philippines with consistency and determination. His season-best mark in the Netherlands, along with recent victories in Asia, suggests he is well on track in his preparation for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
While a podium finish eluded him in Hengelo, Obiena showed that he’s building momentum and remains firmly in the hunt among the world’s top vaulters.
