Published August 31, 2026 12:54pm
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FILE PHOTO. Athletics – Diamond League – Zurich – Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland – August 27, 2026 Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena in action during the men’s pole vault final. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
EJ Obiena strikes gold in ISTAF Berlin Filipino pride EJ Obiena continued his resurgence on the international stage, ruling the 2026 ISTAF Berlin at the Olympiastadion in Germany on early Monday (Philippine time).
The Philippine bet cleared 5.82 meters to rule the 10-man field and capture his ninth title of the year and fourth of the last seven competitions he participated in since late July.
World No. 12 Obiena skipped the first two heights before needing two attempts to clear 5.62 meters. The Filipino ace then skipped the next height before successfully clearing 5.82 meters.
Obiena then attempted to clear 5.97 meters but failed to do so after three attempts. Ylio Philtjens of Belgium and Robin Emig of France both had a 5.72-meter clearance but the Belgian ace seized the silver due to countback as the latter settled for a bronze.
Obiena was coming off a fifth-place finish in the Zurich leg of the Diamond League, where he cleared 5.90 meters—an effort that secured his qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
—JMB, GMA News