Obiena wins gold in Poland, resets season-best mark

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

EJ Obiena’s stellar international tournament campaign continued after a gold medal-clinching, season-best 5.91-meter clearance during the Golden Sand competition in Międzyzdroje, Poland, on Aug. 18, 2026.

With another golden leap, the Filipino pole vault sensation surpassed his previous season best of 5.85 meters at the Meeting Madrid in Spain while capturing his eighth gold medal of the 2026 tournament calendar.

Obiena was fresh off a convincing outing in Germany, capping his one-week trip with back-to-back golds during the Halberstädter Höhenflug in Halberstadt and the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim.

His 5.91-meter clearance was more than enough to help him earn another podium finish, edging Qatar’s Seifeldin Abdelsalam and the USA’s Cole Walsh.

Obiena was dominant from start to finish, clearing every qualifying height with ease, which put him in a comfortable position to clear the 5.90-meter mark, a height he had failed to surpass since the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With the successful clearance, Obiena officially established his highest mark in two years and boosted his chances of re-entering the top 10 as the world’s current No. 13 pole vaulter.

The expected point boost Obiena received in Germany and Poland will be critical in his bid to obtain a direct invitation to the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where the top eight pole vaulters will be prioritized.

Obiena is enjoying one of his best starts to an international tournament calendar after collecting his 11th overall medal since opening 2026 with a bronze in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“Step by step,” Obiena posted on his official Facebook account after clinching gold.

“I haven’t been up here for some time. 5.91m here in Międzyzdroje for the gold and a new meeting record. Thank you very much Golden Sand for having me. Happy to finally be back over a 90 bar.”