FILIPINO pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena overcame dense fog to dominate the Taiwan International Pole Vault Championships at Sun Moon Lake.

Obiena cleared 5.50 meters on his third attempt, securing the top spot in a field that included fellow Filipinos Hokket Delos Santos, Francis Allen Sillar, Ma. Khrizzie Clarisse Ruzol, and Jessa Marie Libres. Delos Santos managed 5.15m, Sillar hit 3.91m, while Ruzol and Libres cleared 3.40m in the women’s division.

A Leap of Faith Amid Fog

In a social media post on Tuesday (01 April 2025), the world No. 4 and Asian record-holder (6.0m) described the competition as a literal and figurative “leap of faith.”

“During my travels for pole vault competitions, I’ve encountered fog warnings at airports. But this was a first—getting a fog warning mid-competition,” Obiena wrote.

With visibility reduced to roughly 10 meters, he embraced the challenge: “You just disappear. Talk about a ‘leap of faith’! I put my trust in God’s hands and pushed through. I’m thankful to have won under such ‘murky’ conditions.”

Eyes on the Outdoor Season

Obiena recently missed the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, due to insufficient qualifying points. Now, he’s fully focused on preparing for the outdoor season, where he aims to represent the Philippines in major international events, including the World Championships, Asian Championships, and SEA Games.

“The indoor season takes a backseat to the outdoor competitions. This Taiwan event is a great start as I build momentum,” he noted in a previous Facebook post.

With this victory, Obiena reaffirms his place among the world’s elite, proving that neither fog nor adversity can cloud his pursuit of excellence.