RETURNING TO the top of the podium, Filipino pole vault star and UST alumnus EJ Obiena captured his first outdoor gold medal of the 2026 season after ruling the Czesław Cybulski Memorial in Poznań, Poland on Monday, June 29.
The two-time Olympian cleared 5.72 meters on his second attempt to clinch the title, finishing ahead of Great Britain’s Owen Heard and Italy’s Matteo Oliveri, who both cleared 5.60 meters.
Heard claimed the silver medal via countback, while Oliveri settled for bronze after posting a season-best mark.
After passing on the opening height of 5.25 meters, Obiena entered the competition at 5.40 meters and cleared on his first attempt. He then skipped 5.50 meters before clearing 5.60 meters on his second try.
Obiena opted to bypass 5.67-meters and went straight to 5.72 meters, where he cleared on his second attempt to seized control of the competition.
With the gold already secured, Obiena raised the bar to 5.82 meters in pursuit of a season-best mark but came up short in all three attempts.
The victory marked Obiena’s second podium finish this year following his silver medal finish at the Eurowings Flight Circus in Düsseldorf, Germany, two weeks ago.
Obiena will resume his European campaign at the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt on Wednesday, July 1, before competing in the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault Championships on Saturday, July 4. F
