FACED with slim chances of qualifying for the World Indoor Championships, Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena has decided to shift his focus to the World Athletics Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
“With limited time left in the indoor season, my performances have been inconsistent. Pole vaulting has been a roller coaster with significant ups and downs. Achieving consistency requires repetition after repetition, which takes time,” Obiena shared in a social media post.
Currently ranked No. 4 in the world, Obiena acknowledged that while he still has a theoretical chance to qualify for the World Indoor Championships, but there are no remaining competitions available for him to participate in.
The final qualifying event took place on February 16 in Torun, Poland, and the next scheduled meet—the Mondo Classic on March 13—falls outside the qualification window.
“The indoor season has always taken a backseat to the outdoor season. I will prioritize my preparations for the upcoming outdoor competitions, where I will represent the country in the World Championships, Asian Championships, and SEA Games,” Obiena said.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will take place from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
“My main goal is to enter the outdoor season in peak condition, ready to compete at the highest level. It’s also crucial to defend the titles I have already won in these championships.”
At the Mondo Classic, held at the IFU Arena, Obiena will once again face the world’s best, including Swedish-American pole vault superstar Armand “Mondo” Duplantis.
Obiena recently claimed his second gold medal of the year at the Copernicus Cup with a season-best performance of 5.80 meters. However, this fell short of the automatic 5.85-meter qualification mark for the World Indoor Championships.
“I am not happy with the result,” Obiena admitted.
His victory in Poland follows his earlier triumph at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlétor in France, where he also secured gold.