EJ Obiena stopped a podium‑less streak on Monday morning, clearing 5.82 meters at ISTAF Berlin held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany.
“5.82m here in Berlin for the gold,” wrote Obiena on social media. “Thank you Istaf Berlin for having me. Hope to see you again next year!”
Belgian Ylio Philtjens and French Robin Emig both cleared 5.72 meters, with Philtjens bagging silver via countback and Emig settling for bronze.
With this gold medal, Obiena swept ISTAF Berlin after winning the indoor meet back in March. Overall, he has now won four gold medals at the event, having previously captured the outdoor title in 2023 and the indoor crown in 2024.
Obiena Misses One Goal but Builds Momentum
Despite the victory, Obiena missed one of his key targets heading into the competition: the 5.97‑meter clearance required to qualify for the prestigious World Athletics Ultimate Championship slated for September 11–13, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary. He attempted the height three times but fell short.
“I missed the 5.97, so I am not going to the Ultimate championship. I started late, but I still have Brussels,” Obiena told reporters after the competition. “I will go training now and I am looking for another competition. On the 20th of September I still have the Asian Games.”
Even so, the 30‑year‑old Filipino enters the stretch run of 2026 with considerable momentum. Having already qualified for next year’s World Championships with a 5.90‑meter clearance at the Zurich Diamond League, Obiena has now collected nine gold medals this season. Crucially, he is gradually returning to the level he displayed before injuries set him back in 2025.
Now, he could be up for one more competition before fully turning his focus to the Asian Games, where he is the defending champion.
