EJ Obiena soars to no. 5 in world pole vault rankings

EJ Obiena has made a jump to no. 5 in the latest pole vault world rankings following his breakthrough performance in the Paris Diamond League last August 29.

The Filipino pole vault ace, who was among the 19 Filipino athletes who saw action in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was previously placed at no. 6.

Still at the top of the rankings is Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who notched the gold medal in the quadrennial event, while Americans Christopher Nielsen and Sam Kendricks are placed in second and third place, respectively.

Renaud Lavillenie of France is currently at fourth spot while Piotr Lisek of Poland follows Obiena at sixth place.

Obiena made history last week when he cleared the 5.91 meter mark, shattering the Phlippine national record of 5.87 which he also set in Poland last June. The 25-year-old Obiena finished second behind Duplantis, who registered 6.01 meters, while Kendricks settled for third place.

—JMB, GMA News