FOR the second time in three days, Filipino Olympian Ernest John Obiena leaped to a height of 5.7 meters to seattle for the bronze medal (Monday in Manila) in the INIT Indoor Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany.
The world no. 11 Obiena made clearance on his first attempt, beating Dutch bet Menno Vloon, and Norwegian Simone Guttormsen, who made it on their second and third tries.
Sondre Guttormsen topped the event at 5.84 meters, while US vaulter Cole Walsh was behind at 5.78 meters.
It was Obiena’s fourth indoor season medal.
Obiena jumped at the same height of 5.7 meters for the gold medal on Saturday evening at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026 in Tianjin, China.
The 30-year-old Obiena also did it on his first attempt, and missed clearing 5.8 meters afterwards, just enough to beat Chinese bets Li Chenyang and Chen Yang, who cleared 5.6 and 5.4 meters, respectively, for the silver and bronze.
His leaps in both events, however, are 7 centimeters below Obiena’s best this season.
On Jan. 28, Obiena shared the top honors with Dutch standout Menno Vloon at the International Springer-Meeting held at the Lausitz Arena in Cottbus, Germany.
Back then, Obiena and Vloon both went up to a height of 5.77 meters to claim the gold medal together.
Also last month, Obiena grabbed the bronze at the 6th ISTAF Indoor meet Dusseldorf, after leaping to a height of 5.65 meters, behind Vloon, who grabbed the gold at 5.75m.
