Obiena falters at athletics worlds

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena failed to qualify in the 2025 World Athletics Championships final, after failing to crash in the top 12 of the qualifications Saturday evening in Tokyo, Japan.

Obiena missed the top 12 of the qualifications after failing to clear 5.70 meters.

The 29-year-old skipped his attempt at 5.40 meters and flew over the bar at 5.55 meters.

But he failed in his first two attempts at 5.70 meters. He then skipped the mark and had a final shot at 5.75 meters.

However, the FIlipino did not clear the distance, and he got booted out of the competition.

Obiena last competed in the World Athletics Championships in 2023, where he finished second against Armand Duplantis in Budapest. There, he tallied 6.00 meters.

The year prior, he finished third in Oregon behind Duplantis and silver medalist Christopher Nilsen.

Last year, after the Paris Olympics, Obiena sat out of the worlds to rest his injured back.

The pride of the Philippines is having a roller-coaster year.

Prior to the World Championships, he finished third in the World Athletics Continental Tour in Beijing and second in the Meeting Madrid 2025.

But before that, he came off back-to-back seventh-place finishes in Monaco and Stockholm, as well as a no-mark in the Oslo Bislett Games.