FILE–The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes during the men’s pole vault event of the ISTAF indoor athletics meeting in Berlin on February 4, 2022. (FILE photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena missed the podium and finished a disappointing 10th place in the Meeting Hauts-De-France in Liévin.
Obiena cleared 5.61 meters, way below his personal best of 5.81m he set last week in Poland for the gold, in the event that had 12 competitors.
Chris Nilsen of the United States won the gold at 5.91m while Brazil’s Thiago Braz collected the silver medal after clearing 5.81m.
Meeno Vlum of the Netherlands settled for the bronze at 5.81m but lost to Braz due to count back.
Braz needed just one attempt to go over 5.81m while Vlum needed three.
Obiena, who needed three attempts at the 5.61m mark, tried to go over 5.71m but failed in all three of his attempts.
The Filipino Olympian will next compete in the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland on Tuesday.