Obiena exits early in World Championships, finishes 18th overall

 Rex Neil Falogme 

Ernest John Obiena concluded his 2025 World Athletics Championships campaign early after failing to clear the 5.75-meter mark in Group A of the men’s pole vault in Tokyo, September 13.

Photo Courtesy of Inquirer

The Filipino pole vaulter managed to clear 5.55 meters, which placed him 18th overall—six spots short of qualifying for the final round.

After missing 5.70 meters twice, the 29-year-old Olympian also failed to clear 5.75 meters in his last attempt, which ended his run in the competition.

This year’s World Championships marked Obiena’s lowest finish in the last three editions, after winning silver in 2022 in Eugene, United States, and bronze in 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.

The early exit also ended his medal streak, following a silver at the Meeting de Madrid in Spain and a bronze at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Beijing last September 7.

The finalists of this year’s edition, meanwhile, include familiar names such as Emmanouil Karalis, Sam Kendricks, Kurtis Marschall, and undisputed world record holder Armand Duplantis.

Obiena is set to redeem himself as he heads home for the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati on September 20 and 21.