FILE–Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
EJ Obiena bounced back on home soil by winning the first-ever Patafa Pole Vault Challenge despite rainy conditions on Tuesday at Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
Obiena, the world No. 4 and Asia’s top pole vaulter, cleared 5.80 meters–his season best–to take first place in the newly launched event organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
READ: EJ Obiena focused on vaulting back to lofty ranking
“I hate rain but… can’t argue,” Obiena wrote on Instagram. “Kidding aside, happy to jump a new SB at my home track. Thank you for everyone that came to compete, watch and soak in the rain! Hope y’all had fun!”
Taiwan’s Yan-Han Wu finished second with a 5.15-m clearance, while Filipino Hokett Delos Santos placed third, also at 5.15m.
READ: EJ Obiena focuses on outdoor events
The victory comes after back-to-back struggles in the Wanda Diamond League, where Obiena failed to make the podium in both early-season events.
He placed fifth on Saturday in the Shanghai leg, where he cleared 5.72m, following a seventh-place finish in Xiamen the previous week.
“Definitely not the result we aimed for but we take the good and continue to build from it,” Obiena said after the China legs.
Patafa, meanwhile, said more competitions are being planned to boost the athletics’ visibility in the country. The national sports body recently hosted the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships 2025.
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