EJ Obiena becomes the first Filipino to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics after clearing the qualifying standard of 5.82 meters at the Stockholm Diamond League held at Stockholm Olympic Stadium in Sweden early Monday (Manila time).
It took Obiena two tries to hit the qualifying mark as he finished second in the eight-man tournament.
World champion and hometown bet Armand Duplantis dominated the event as he recorded 6.05 meters. He will also compete in the Paris Games to defend the gold medal he won at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Norway’s Pal Haugen Lillefose took third place over Ben Broeders of Belgium via countback despite both athletes tied at 5.72 meters.
Kurtis Marschall of Australia got fifth place via a countback over Thiago Braz of Brazil after the two drew with 5.62 meters.
Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen posted 5.42 meters in seventh place, while France’s Renaud Lavillenie failed to surpass the starting mark of 5.42 meters.
