Obiena soars to pole vault gold in USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena bagged another gold medal a few months before the Paris Olympics after ruling the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix early Sunday morning (Manila time).

Obiena reigned supreme in the event after finishing the tourney with 5.80 meters.

He needed two attempts to clear 5.70 meters before flying over 5.80 meters in his first attempt.

Coming in second is Norway’s Simen Guttormsen, who notched 5.70 meters.

American KC Lightfoot likewise ended up with 5.70 meters, as well as compatriot Chis Nilsen.

This is the third pole vault championship for the 28-year-old this year.

In February this year, he snagged the top place in the Memorial Josip Gasparac indoor event in Croatia and the ISTAF Indoor 2024 in Berlin.

In the same competition, Filipino runner Lauren Hoffman came in fifth in the women’s 400 meter hurdles.

Hoffman tallied 55.84 seconds.

American Anna Cockrell topped the competition with 53.75 seconds. She is followed by Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight with 54.69 seconds and America’s Cassandra Tate with 55.02 seconds.