Obiena tops ISTAF Indoor pole vault tilt

The Philippines’s Ernest John Obiena competes in the men’s pole vault event during the Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League athletics meeting in Keqiao, Shaoxing in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on May 3, 2025.

Pedro Pardo / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Back on top.

Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena ruled the ISTAF Indoor pole vault competition in Berlin Saturday (Manila time) via countback.

Obiena, the World No. 12 pole vaulter, bested seven other athletes to grab the title.

“Brick by brick we build. Season’s best of 5.78m and a [gold medal] here,” he posted on Facebook.

“Thanks for having me, Berlin. #parasabayan”

The 30-year-old cleared 5.60 meters in two attempts, before skipping 5.70 meters.

With Parokya ni Edgar’s Bagsakan blasting on the background, Obiena cleared a season-best 5.78 meters.

The bar waddled a bit, but it later steadied as the Filipino celebrated.

Later though, Obiena missed all three attempts at 5.83 meters.

Norway’s Simen Guttormsen also cleared 5.78 meters, but he had two attempts at 5.45 meters, two attempts at 5.60 meters and two attempts at 5.70 meters to settle for the silver medal.

Menno Vloon and Bo Kanda Lita Baehre wound up at joint-third after clearing 5.70 meters but missing their marks at the 5.78 meters.

It has been an up-and-down season thus far for Obiena.

After making the podium in four of the first five tournaments of the year, he finished fourth in Perche aux étoiles, sixth in Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF, and sixth in the ORLEN Copernicus Cup.

And now, he seems back on track.