EJ Obiena missed the chance to claim a third consecutive World Athletics Championships medal after finishing in a tie for 18th place in the men’s pole vault qualifications on Saturday at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The World No.7 cleared 5.55 meters on his first attempt, sharing the spot with Czechia’s Matěj Šcerba and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Onufriyev — just one clearance short of making the final at 5.75 meters.
The three-time Asian champion missed twice at 5.70 meters before attempting 5.75 meters, but he was unsuccessful.
Obiena had earlier passed on the starting height of 5.40 meters.
Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, the reigning world champion, led the qualifiers with a clearance of 5.75 meters, along with the USA’s Sam Kendricks, Greece’s Manu Karalis, and Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen.
Only the top 12 vaulters advanced to the medal round, as no athlete cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 5.80 meters.
Obiena was coming off a bronze-medal performance at the World Athletics Continental Tour in China just five days ago and had been optimistic about vying for a third consecutive World medal, following his bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023.
The three-time SEA Games gold medalist will aim to bounce back in front of his countrymen at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City.
Next up for Team Philippines is 2023 Asian champion in the 400 meters hurdles, Robyn Brown, who will compete in the event’s heats at 10:20 AM (Philippine time) on Monday.
