EJ Obiena clears 5.91m to win gold in Poland

August 18 ------ Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena extended his sensational European summer campaign, capturing another gold medal at the Golden Sand 2026 competition in Międzyzdroje, Poland.

Obiena dominated the field at the Promenada Gwiazd, clearing a season-best 5.91 meters to secure the top spot on the podium. The victory marks the world No. 13's eighth gold medal of the 2026 season, solidifying his status as one of the circuit's most consistent elite athletes following a packed stretch across Europe and Asia.

Obiena outperformed a highly competitive field in the World Athletics Continental Tour event, which featured formidable global talent including American standouts Cole Walsh and Hunter Garretson, as well as France's Robin Emig.

The 5.91m clearance is Obiena's best mark this season, surpassing his previous 5.85m silver-medal finish at the Meeting Madrid in Spain and his recent 5.83m golden clearance at the Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany last week.

Obiena’s masterclass in Poland adds to an impressive 2026 trophy haul that already includes golden finishes in Cottbus, Berlin, Halberstadt, Poznań, Eisenstadt, and Tianjin. The continuous podium finishes provide critical ranking points for the 30-year-old Filipino icon as he guns for a spot in the upcoming World Athletics Ultimate Championships. Obiena is currently ranked No. 13 in the world and aims to break back into the top 10. He recently moved his training base to Greece, where he trains alongside current world No. 2 Emmanouil Karalis.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com