FILIPINO pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena finished seventh at the 2026 Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland after clearing 5.80 meters on Monday.
The Filipino Olympian successfully negotiated 5.50m, 5.65m and 5.80m, but could not clear 5.90m despite two attempts. He then made one final attempt at 6.00m, which also fell short.
Obiena’s 5.80m placed him behind a stacked field led by world No. 1 and Olympic champion Armand Duplantis.
Duplantis dominated the competition with a 6.20m clearance to claim the top spot. Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen took silver after clearing 6.00m, winning the countback over Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, who also reached the same height.
The result came after Obiena placed sixth at the Athletissima Lausanne in Switzerland, where he cleared 5.81m.
Before his recent back-to-back outside podium finishes, the 30-year-old Filipino had won three consecutive gold medals, highlighted by a season-best 5.91m clearance at the Golden Sand meet in Poland.
Obiena is now turning his attention to the 2026 Asian Games, where he is expected to defend his title. He is also scheduled to compete in upcoming meets in Zurich, Switzerland, as he continues his buildup for the continental competition. (Adrian Co)
