Obiena takes 1st gold this season

(UPDATE) ERNEST John "EJ" Obiena claimed his first gold medal for the 2025 season by ruling the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor men's pole vault in France early Sunday (Manila time). The Filipino soared to a season-best 5.70-meter clearance to top the 8-man field, defeating Dutch Menno Vloon via a countback. Vloon cleared the same height but needed more attempts than Obiena did. After surpassing 5.70 m, Obiena, ranked No. 4 in the world, skipped 5.80 and tried to hurdle 5.85 m but failed in three attempts. American Christopher Nilsen completed the podium finishers with 5.60 m. In less than 24 hours, Obiena was set to compete in his second tournament, the Istaf Indoor in Germany, on Sunday where he will defend his title. Obiena won last year's meet by setting an Asian indoor record of 5.93-meter clearance. The 29-year-old, who also won the event in the 2021 edition, was gunning for a repeat in a field that also includes Paris Games silver medalist Sam Kendricks of the US. Reigning Olympic and World champion Armand "Mondo" Duplantis is not competing, but familiar faces are out to give Obiena a run for his money. Home bets Oleg Zernikel, Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Torben Blech, as well as Huang Bokai of China, Ersu Susma of Turkey, and American Austin Miller, look to dethrone Obiena. Obiena started his 2025 season with a silver medal at the International Springer-Meeting Cottbus on Jan. 30.