MANILA, Philippines — Barely a month after going through surgery, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena finished a respectable 4th at the ISTAF Indoor Berlin in Germany on Friday (early Saturday morning, Manila time).
Obiena cleared 5.70m in one attempt to end up in the midfield of the eight pole vaulters who competed in the tiff.
He attempted to bump up his finish with three attempts at 5.81m but couldn't clear the height.
World record holder Armand Duplantis unsurprisingly led the pack with a Meet record of 6.03m.
Duplantis wanted to reset his personal best and world with attempts at 6.19m but couldn't get through.
USA's KC Lightfoot ended up second with a season-best 5.92m clearance.
Oleg Zernikel of Germany wrapped up the Top 3 with a personal best of 5.81m.
The German's previous personal best was just 5.72m.
Next up for Obiena is the Beijer Pole Vault Gala, a European Athletics Indoor Area Permit Meeting, at Uppsala, Sweden on February 9.
Obiena's season comes amid his verbal and legal spat with National Sports Association the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association who has already ousted him from the national team.
The pole vault star is thus competing out of his own pocket and with help from sponsors as he does not receive any more funding from the NSA.