French standout Thibaut Collet is eager to make his mark at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, set this Sunday at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.
Fresh from a fifth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 26-year-old Collet enters the Manila meet ranked World No. 12, carrying the momentum of one of his finest seasons yet. He cleared 5.90 meters in Tokyo—a performance that matched his result in the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Earlier this year, he soared to 5.91 meters at a local meet in France, with a personal best of 5.95 meters set in 2023.
“This is the kind of event I’ve always wanted to try—jumping in a unique and exciting place. I’m here to enjoy the atmosphere and discover what’s in store in the Philippines,” said Collet during a meet-and-greet with fans.
Joining him in the elite field are World No. 6 Menno Vloon of the Netherlands and Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen, who tied Collet in Tokyo. Vloon, the reigning 2025 European Indoor Champion, expressed his enthusiasm about performing in front of Filipino fans.
“I’m excited to experience the energy and atmosphere of pole vaulting in the Philippines. It’s always special to compete in a new environment, connect with the athletics community, and hopefully jump great heights,” Vloon remarked.
But the spotlight will undoubtedly shine on Filipino ace Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, currently ranked World No. 7. The 29-year-old, who fell short in Tokyo after clearing 5.55 meters—below the cutoff of 5.80—sees the Manila event as a chance for redemption and a showcase of world-class talent on home soil.
“It’s finally happening! I can’t wait for Filipino sports fans to witness world-class pole vaulting right in the heart of the city,” said Obiena.
The competition, sanctioned under the World Athletics Continental Tour – Bronze Category, transforms the Ayala Triangle Gardens into a premier sporting arena. Aside from Collet, Vloon, Guttormsen, and Obiena, the star-studded lineup also features World No. 5 Ersu Sasma of Turkey, Belgium’s Ben Broeders who is ranked 13th, American Austin Miller at 14th, Poland’s Piotr Lisek at 15th, Germany’s Oleg Zernikel at 16th, and USA’s Matt Ludwig, ranked 23rd in the world.
The event is supported by the Ayala Foundation and the MVP Sports Foundation, both committed to Obiena’s vision of inspiring Filipino athletes to pursue excellence on the global stage.
