Filipino Olympian Ernest John Obiena placed sixth in the men’s pole vault event of the ORLEN Copernicus Cup held in Poland on Monday (Manila time).

Obiena successfully cleared 5.65 meters but failed to surpass the 5.75-meter mark after missing all three of his attempts at that height, ending his campaign outside the podium.

Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen captured the gold medal after clearing 5.85 meters. American standout Christopher Nilsen secured the silver with a 5.80-meter clearance, while another Norwegian, Simen Guttormsen, took the bronze with the same height of 5.80 meters.

Obiena, who represented the Philippines in the Olympics, is aiming to meet the 5.90-meter qualifying standard for the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled from March 20 to 22. He will need to clear that mark in his next competitions to secure a spot in the prestigious indoor meet.

Despite the setback in Poland, Obiena remains one of Asia’s top pole vaulters and continues his buildup toward the world indoor stage.