THOMASIAN pole vault star EJ Obiena returned to action after an almost two-month layoff, snagging bronze in the World Athletics Continental Tour in Beijing, China, on Sept. 7.
The two-time Olympian cleared 5.65 meters in his first meet since July.
Chinese vaulter Tao Zhong struck gold via countback after clearing 5.75m, while American Cole Walsh took silver with the same height.
After clearing 5.65m on his first attempt, Obiena failed twice at 5.75m before bowing out with a final miss at 5.85m.
The 29-year-old slipped to world No. 7 in the latest rankings released on Sept. 2, two spots lower than before.
Obiena’s podium finish, however, gives him momentum heading into the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo scheduled on Sept. 13 to 21. He will attempt to chase a third consecutive medal after bagging bronze in 2022 and then silver in 2023.
The Filipino pole vault ace will return to Manila for the inaugural Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, which he will be hosting from Sept. 20 to 21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati.
Joining Obiena in the star-studded field are Turkey’s Ersu Sasma (No. 5), the Netherlands’ Menno Vloon (No. 6), France’s Thibaut Collet (No. 12), Belgium’s Ben Broeders (No. 13), USA’s Austin Miller (No. 14), Poland’s Piotr Lisek (No. 15), Germany’s Oleg Zernikel (No. 16) and USA’s Matt Ludwig (No. 23). F
