Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is headed to the Diamond League finals in Zurich, Switzerland, which will be staged from September 8 to 9.

He becomes the first Filipino to see action in the final of the athletics league that kicked off in 2010.

After winning the silver and setting a new national record in the Paris leg last August 28, Obiena’s latest result was a 10th place finish in Brussels on Friday, September 3.

Obiena cleared 5.65 meters, which was far from his record-breaking performance of 5.91m in Paris.

Pole vault wunderkind Armand Duplantis of Sweden, who also won the Tokyo Olympics gold, continues to rule the competition with another top finish and set the competition record after clearing 6.05m.

The American-Swede attempted to reset his own world record by attempting 6.19m, but failed in all three tries.

Christopher Nilsen, who won the Tokyo Olympics silver, placed second behind Duplantis once again, while compatriot KC lightfoot nabbed bronze as both Americans ended with 5.85m results.

Obiena nailed his career-high world ranking at No. 5 after his Paris leg performance in his bid to bounce back from an 11th place finish in the Tokyo Olympics. – Rappler.com