World No. 3 pole vaulter EJ Obiena is back to his winning ways.
The Italy-based Filipino won his second straight tournament on Thursday after ruling the NetAachen Domsprigen in Aachen, Germany.
Obiena, who won the ISTAF Berlin last Monday, leaped 5.92 meters for the gold medal in the event that drew the participation of 14 other entries.
The 27-year-old again attempted to break the Philippine and Asian record by going over 6.02m but failed to do so in three attempts.
Sam Kendricks of the United States came in at second place after jumping over 5.87m while France’s Thibaut Collet picked up the bronze medal after tallying 5.82m.
Menno Vloon of the Netherlands got fourth place over American Austin Miller via countback despite both athletes tallying 5.75m.
France’s Ethan Cormont wound up at sixth place over hometown bet Gillan Ladwig, who placed seventh, and eighth-placer Matt Ludwig of the US as the French athlete prevailed via countback as all three athletes leaped over 5.65m.
Via countback, Valter Kreiss of Latvia took ninth place over Hussein Al Hizam of Saudi Arabia even though both of them got over 5.40m.
Dominik Albreto of Switzerland only needed one jump to get over 5.20m, giving him the 11th place as Germans Tom-Linus Humann and Till Marburger got 12th and 13th place, respectively, via countback.
Germany’s Hendrik Müller and Thomas van Nuffelen are tied at 14th place after completing five meters.
Interestingly, world champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden, and 2023 World Athletics Championships bronze medalists Christopher Nilsen of the US and Australia’s Kurtis Marschall were not in attendance in the German tilt.
They will, however, be present in the Brussels Diamond League at the Brussels King Baudouin Stadium on 9 September at 2:15 a.m. (Manila time) where Obiena is also set to participate.
Obiena is also gearing up for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
He is the heavy favorite to snatch the gold medal.
Last week, Obiena finished dead-last in a Diamond League event in Zurich but immediately stormed back after shining in Berlin.
