Obiena vaults 5.81 m in Athens

MANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena has sputtered to the lowest of lows the past two years while battling injuries that nearly made the world forget he was once No. 2 and cleared a personal-best 6.00 meters.

On Sunday in the Greek capital, the Filipino Asian and Southeast Asian champion gave a glimpse of what he’s still capable of, posting a season-best 5.81 meters at the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault.

That clearance put the Tondo, Manila native – now World No. 14 but eager to reclaim his place near the top – in a five-way tie for third with Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, Dutchman Menno Vloon, Turkey’s Ersu Sasma, and France’s Baptiste Thiery.

Obiena eventually finished fourth, while Karalis, an Olympic bronze medalist and Obiena’s training partner under new coach Marcin Szczepanski in Athens, took the bronze via countback.

Olympic and World Championship silver medalist Chris Nilsen of the United States struck gold, edging France’s Thibaut Collet – who also cleared 5.91m – via countback.

It was Obiena’s best performance this year, topping his 5.78m at the ISTAF Indoor meet in Berlin last March.