Ernest John Obiena (Facebook)
MANILA – Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena finished tied for third with two others at the Wanda Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday (Thursday, PH time).
Paris Olympics gold medalist Armand Duplantis of Sweden won with a leap of 6.15 meters, improving by five centimeters the record he set at the same venue in 2022.
American Sam Kendricks, the Paris silver medalist and champion of 2017 and 2019, cleared 5.92m in his first attempt to settle for second place.
The world No. 3 Obiena cleared 5.82 meters in a single attempt, the same performance of Norway's Sondre Guttormsen and Australia's Kurtis Marschall.
After a successful first attempt at 5.62m, Duplantis also cleared 5.82m, 5.92m and 6.00m.
The Wanda Diamond League was Obiena's first tournament after Paris where he finished fourth.
Next up for Obiena is the Silesia leg on Aug. 25. (PNA)
