By MARK REY MONTEJO
Two-time Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena hopes to rediscover the form that enabled him to produce several firsts when he leads the Philippine campaign in the 2025 World Athletics Championships at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo starting Saturday, Sept. 13.
It was during the 2023 Budapest edition where Obiena established his Asian mark of 6.0 meters apart from winning a silver medal – the highest finish by a Filipino athlete in the global event.
Though he’s yet to hit that mark again, Obiena remains upbeat of his chances.
Obiena, 29, is actually looking for his third straight podium finish in front of the sport’s biggest stars gathering at the 20th staging of the biennial meet.
This marks the fourth straight appearance by the Tondo native in the grandest athletics event where he also snared bronze in the Covid-delayed 2022 tournament held in Eugene, Oregon.
The world No. 7 Obiena, however, has been drawn in Group B where he will be going up against current world No. 1 and reigning champion Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, world No. 3 Sam Kendricks of the United States, and 15 other elite vaulters.
No. 2 Greek Emmanouil Karalis and No. 4 Australian Kurtis Marschall bannered Group A which also has an 18-man field.
Top performers of the two groups will book their tickets to the final round on Monday, Sept. 15.
The Filipino star hopes to figure prominently in the event as he plays host to fellow world-class pole vaulters in the inaugural Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati City on Sept. 21.
Obiena is coming off a bronze medal finish in the World Athletics Continental Tour in Beijing, China where he was outshone by Chinese Tao Zhong and American Cole Walsh after clearing only 5.65 meters.
Meanwhile, Robyn Brown, the 2023 Asian Athletics gold medalist, begins her quest in the women’s 400m hurdles on Monday.
