Filipino champion Ernest John “EJ” Obiena will attempt a repeat win over World No. 1 Armand Duplantis in the latter’s own pole vault gala on home soil at the Mondo Classic 2023 in Uppsala, Sweden.
The Mondo Classic event site noted how EJ Obiena is the only pole vaulter to beat Duplantis in the 2022 outdoor season with a gold-winning jump of 5.91 meters at the 12th leg of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium. The report also highlighted how the Filipino Olympian set the Asian Record of 5.94 meters at the World Championships in Oregon.
World No. 3 Obiena is among the ten elite pole vaulters set to challenge Duplantis’ domination of the sport at the IFU Arena on February 2 (February 3 Philippine time).
The Philippines’ pride in men’s pole vault will be among the 11 World Champions and Olympians competing at the Mondo Classic 2023:
- Armand Duplantis SWE
- Sam Kendricks USA
- KC Lightfoot USA
- Ernest Obiena PHL
- Thiago Braz BRA
- Bo Kanda Lita Baehre GER
- Ben Broeders BEL
- Kurtis Marschall AUS
- Pål Haugen Lillefosse NOR
- Emmanuel Karalis GRC
- Thibaut Collet FRA
The Philippines' EJ Obiena @ejobiena is all set to challenge 10 of the world's best pole vaulters at the Mondo Classic 2023 in Uppsala, Sweden STORY on @GoodNewsPinas_https://t.co/C3xWYbtNmI
— Angie Quadra-Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) February 2, 2023
Obiena is competing in Sweden after a strong start to the indoor season with a gold-winning 5.82m vault at the 2023 Perche en Or Roubaix in France and a 5.77m jump for a silver finish at the International Springer Meeting in Cottbus, Germany.
The Mondo Classic 2023 can be viewed on livestream on the Red Bull channel.
SEND WELL WISHES in the comments below to EJ Obiena as he challenges the World No. 1 and 9 other World Champions and Olympians at the Mondo Classic 2023!
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