One bad night for Obiena

MANILA, Philippines —  This was one night that Paris Olympics-bound Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena should quickly forget.

Obiena finished seventh in the 63rd Ostrava Golden Spike meet that Armand Duplantis effortlessly ruled Tuesday in Czech Republic.

The Asian champion and world No. 2 couldn’t do anything right as he broke a pole midway in the campaign and settled for just 5.52 meters. He went for 5.62m, 5.72m and even 5.82m but failed.

Meanwhile, Duplantis, the Olympic and world champion and record holder, was unchallenged in winning the event in 6m flat. Frenchman Ethan Cormont was second while Belgian Ben Broeders came in third with identical 5.62m.