Pole vault star EJ Obiena edged Olympic silver medalist Christopher Nilsen of the United States to win his second gold medal in as many days at the Gala dei Castelli at Municipal Stadium in Bellinzona, Switzerland Monday.
Obiena cleared 5.81 meters to top the 10-man tournament. Nilsen managed only 5.71 meters.
The 26-year-old Filipino tried to reset the Asian record at 5.95 meters but failed after three attempts.
Renaud Lavillenie of France, the 2012 London Olympics champion, came in at third place with 5.71 meters, beating American Jacob Wooten via countback.
Simen Guttormsen of Norway settled for fifth at 5.61 meters. Thiabut Collet also tallied 5.61 meters but had more attempts.
Rounding out the standings are French Ammirati Anthony (5.51 meters), hometown bet Dominik Alberto (5.41 meters), Swiss Justin Fournier (5.21 meters), and Swiss Valentin Imsand (5.21 meters).
It was Obiena’s sixth gold medal in eight tournaments with his biggest win coming from the Brussels Diamond League in which he defeated world record-holder Armand Duplantis.
He took the silver at the ISTAF Berlin and bronze at the Athletissima in Lausanne.
