EJ Obiena finishes fifth in challenging FBK games pole vault competition

Filipino pole vault ace Ernest John “EJ” Obiena secured a fifth-place finish at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands, on Monday (early Tuesday morning Manila time). Obiena cleared a height of 5.66 meters, but a countback decided his final standing in a highly competitive field.

The 29-year-old Olympian, who recently defended his Asian Athletics Championships title, faced stiff competition from a strong contingent of pole vaulters, including several top Americans. The gold medal ultimately went to Christopher Nilsen of the United States, who cleared an impressive 5.82 meters. Nilsen’s compatriot KC Lightfoot claimed silver with a 5.74-meter clearance.

The bronze medal was shared by Americans Keaton Daniel and China’s Tao Zhong, both of whom also cleared 5.66 meters. However, Daniel and Zhong edged out Obiena via countback, as they had cleared the 5.56-meter bar in one attempt, while Obiena required two tries. Obiena, who opted to skip the opening height of 5.40 meters, managed to clear 5.56 meters on his second attempt before successfully clearing 5.66 meters. He then made three attempts at 5.74 meters but was unable to clear the bar.

WE’RE PROUD OF YOU, EJ!

Na-clear ng Pinoy pole vaulter na si EJ Obiena ang 5.66 meters para magtapos sa ikalimang puwesto sa men’s pole vault event sa FBK Games sa Netherlands.

Ito rin ang naitalang height ng mga kalaban niyang sina Keaton Daniel ng U.S.A. at Tao Zhong ng… pic.twitter.com/0AO99nsreA

— News5 (@News5PH) June 10, 2025

This competition marks Obiena’s first outing since his successful campaign at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where he soared to 5.77 meters to secure his third consecutive continental title. The FBK Games served as a crucial part of his European circuit as he continued to fine-tune his form for upcoming major competitions.

Despite the fifth-place finish, Obiena’s participation in such a high-caliber event underscores his consistent presence among the world’s elite pole vaulters. He will now quickly turn his attention to his next challenges, with the Oslo Bislett Games in Norway slated for June 12, followed by the Bauhaus-Galan in Sweden on June 15. These events will provide further opportunities for Obiena to build momentum and sharpen his technique as the season progresses.

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