Obiena pockets bronze in Golden Spike

(UPDATE) FILIPINO Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has clinched a bronze medal at the 2023 Golden Spike event in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Obiena cleared at 5.90 meters (m), as well as Australia's Kurtis Marschall, which is also the latter's personal best, but based on the results, Marschall got the better end on countback since he cleared his first attempt at the height.

“Thank you for everyone who went out and watch up jump some bars,” the Olympian wrote on his Instagram profile on Wednesday. “Still lots of figuring out to do.”

EJ Obiena PHOTO FROM OBIENA’S INSTAGRAM

Winning the event is Swedish-American Olympic gold medalist Armand Duplantis, who cleared at 6.12 m.

Duplantis' height is currently placed as the World Leading for the 2023 season, with his 6.22-m world record from February remains. He is the only one to have gone beyond 6 m this tournament.

The 23-year-old world-record holder improved his previous outdoor best of 6.11 this season at Hengelo, Netherlands earlier this month.

Duplantis cleared 6.12 with his first attempt before failing to clear 6.17.

“I just tried to do the best I could as I always do, and I'm pretty happy with the 6.12 to win,” Duplantis told Czech public television.

The American-born Duplantis, who competes for Sweden, set a world record of 6.22 at an indoor meet in Clermont-Ferrand, France on February 25.

Another world-record holder, American shot putter Ryan Crouser, dominated the competition with a throw of 22.63 m to improve his own Golden Spike record.

Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico won the women's 100 hurdles in 12.42 seconds to stay unbeaten this year.

Obiena will be participating at the Bauhausgalan, held in Duplantis' home country of Sweden on July 2, for his next event.

WITH ASSOCIATED PRESS