Fresh of a historic six-meter jump that propelled him into a group of elite pole vaulters, EJ Obiena jumped to another podium finish at the Wanda Diamond League, in Oslo, Norway.
The world's top three pole vaulters finished in the same order, with top gun Mondo Duplantis clearing 6.01 meters. American and world no. 2 Christopher Nilsen took silver after clearing 5.91 meters. Obiena completed the podium finishers behind a 5.81-meter clearance.
EJ went toe-to-toe with Duplantis and Nilsen, clearing 5.61 meters, 5,71 meters, and 5.81 meters in one attempt each. The Asian record holder however couldn't get past the 5.91 mark twice, and his lone crack at the 6.01 mark—which would have been another personal, national and Asian record—was a no go.
Obiena is currently honing a new technique that is expected to help the pride of Tondo, Manila clear the 6-meter standard regularly.