EJ Obiena wins gold at inaugural World Pole Vault Challenge in Manila

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena ended his 2025 season on a high note, capturing the gold medal in the first-ever Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge on last Sunday, September 21, at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.

Obiena cleared 5.80 meters on his second attempt, edging out Frenchman Thibaut Collet, who matched the same height but only on his final try. The tiebreak favored the Filipino, sealing his victory in the event he helped organize to bring world-class pole vault action to the Philippines.

The contest reached a tense finish when Obiena failed twice at 5.85 meters, giving Collet a chance to take the lead. The French vaulter gambled by skipping to 5.90 meters, but he came up short with three failed attempts. That secured the triumph for Obiena, who matched his season-best clearance of 5.80 meters – also achieved earlier this year in Poland, Manila, and Spain.

As rain poured over the venue, the crowd erupted when Obiena celebrated with a fist pump and a backflip into the landing pit, savoring his golden finish on home soil.

The win capped a roller-coaster year for the 29-year-old Olympian, who slipped to world No. 7 and missed the finals of the World Championships after back-to-back podium finishes in the last two editions. Despite the setbacks, Obiena once again proved why he remains the face of Philippine athletics on the global stage.