Obiena picks up first gold in 2025 indoor season

Metro Manila, Philippines - Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena won his first gold in this year's indoor season through the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor held in France on Saturday, Feb. 8 (France time).

Obiena ruled the tier silver competition after hurdling 5.70 meters in one try at the L'Anneau-Halle d'athlétisme de Metz.

He failed in his attempts at the 5.85-meter bar.

Netherlands’ Menno Vloon emerged second place due to countback. Vloon also cleared 5.70 meters in one attempt but he had two errors before successfully jumping over the 5.60-meter bar, which Obiena skipped.

USA’s Christopher Nilsen completed the podium with his 5.60 meters clearance.

Also competing in the French meet were Belgium’s Ben Broeders, USA’s Austin Miller and Keaton Daniel, Greece’s Ioannis Rizos, and Czechia’s Dan Barta.

Obiena’s victory followed his silver medal finish at the International Springer-Meeting Cottbus in Germany on Jan. 30 (Manila time).

Currently the world no. 4 pole vaulter, Obiena had to cut his 2024 season short after he was diagnosed with a spine fracture. 

The Tondo native will return to Germany for the ISTAF Indoor Düsseldorf on Sunday evening (Manila time).