A respectable feat for the current world no. 11 in the sport.
Last Tuesday, September 1, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena headed to the 4th Domspringen Wesel in Germany, where he competed in the men’s pole vault event of the said athletics meet.
The 30-year-old, who had just clinched his ninth gold medal at ISTAF Berlin, looked to round his haul with a perfect 10.
However, he admitted to have started feeling fatigued by the time this meet happened, as he competed in six competitions within the past 14 days.
“Rough rough day and tiredness eventually caught up after 6 competition this last 14 days. Took too many mistakes at the earlier bars and paid the price,” Obiena told as she revealed clearing 5.75 meters to get the silver medal.
Clinching the gold medal in this meet is Frenchman Robin Emig, who cleared 5.80 meters, while American pole vaulter Cole Walsh secured the bronze medal.
This is yet another medal for Obiena, who also took home gold at the Golden Sand meet in Poland and the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany in August, as well as the Halberstadter Hohenflug competition.
These followed his prior medals he garnered from Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poland Cottbus, Germany (which he shared with Menno Vloon), the Asian Indoor Championships in Tianjin, China, the ISTAF Indoor contest in Berlin, Germany.
Meanwhile, EJ also previously earned a spot in the upcoming World Championship in 2027 after clearing the 5.90-meter bar at the recent the Diamond League Weltklasse Zurich in Switzerland.
Obiena is also preparing his participation at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi, Japan, which will begin on September 19 and will run until early October.
