Obiena finishes 5th in first post-Olympic competition
Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes in the men’s pole vault final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 3, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena settled for the fifth spot of the Athletissima, an event that is part of the Wanda Diamond League, beating out other Tokyo Olympians in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Filipino pole vaulter, who finished 11th in the Olympics, had a best of 5.52 meters as he tied fellow Olympians Ethan Cormont of France and Tokyo fourth placer KC Lightfoot of the United States in the final rankings of the event.
Olympic silver medalist Christopher Nilsen of the United States took gold with a 5.82m clearance beating fellow American Sam Kendricks who took more attempts at the height.
Timur Morgunov of Russia took the bronze after clearing 5.72 meters.
Olympic gold medalist Armand Duplantis missed out on the podium as his best was just at 5.62m.
Poland’s Piotr Lisek, who finished sixth in Tokyo, took the eighth spot in Switzerland with a best of 5.42 meters while fellow Olympian France’s Valentin Lavillenie settled for ninth place after losing by countback.
Lavillenie’s older brother Renauld finished 10th with a best of 5.32m.
