EJ Obiena finishes 5th in return to competition after Olympics

The Philippines' EJ Obiena missed out on the podium after placing fifth at the Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday morning (Manila time) to mark his first competition since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 25-year-old pole vaulter easily cleared both his first attempts at the 5.42 and 5.52-meter marks but was unsuccessful in hurdling the 5.62m after three jumps.

Obiena finished at fifth spot where he was in a three-way tie with Ethan Cormont of France and fellow Olympian KC Lightfoot of the United States.

American Christopher Nielsen topped the event after registering 5.82m while Sam Kendricks, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive COVID-19 test, also cleared 5.82 but ranked second as he completed it in two attempts.

Timur Morgunov, meanwhile, placed third with a 5.72m-finish.

Surprisingly, 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Armand Duplantis was unable to land on the podium after only clearing 5.62 to wind up at fourth.

—JMB, GMA News