Obiena competes in Mondo Classic

After a failed bid to qualify for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Ernest John Obiena looks to end his indoor season with a bang as he competes in the Mondo Classic in Uppsala, Sweden this Friday.

Obiena, 29, will participate in this 10-man spectacle that gathered the best pole vaulters in the world starting at 1:30 a.m. (Manila time).

The Asian Games gold medalist wasn’t able to qualify for the world meet that will take place from 21 to 23 March as he wasn’t able to hit the standard of 5.85 meters before the 9 March deadline.

In fact, his season-best in the indoor circuit was at 5.80m at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland last February.

“Believe me, I am in a much better shape than what the result is reflecting and I am not stopping there. Next Stop before Outdoors, Mondo Classic!” Obiena said.

“I believe my best vaults are ahead.”

It’s going to be the first time in two years that Obiena will compete in the Mondo Classic after a bronze medal finish in 2023 after clearing 5.91m.

He will be up against a stacked field of pole vaulters led by home bet and reigning world champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden.

Paris Olympics silver medalist Sam Kendricks of the United States joins the Mondo Classic as well as Paris Summer Games bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece, who posted a podium finish over Obiena via countback last year. IVAN SUING

Completing the list are Kurtis Marschall of Australia, Sondre Guttormsen of Norway, Thibaut Collet and Renaud Lavillenie of France, Ben Broeders of Belgium, and Ersu Sasma.

Obiena will compete against Duplantis for the first time this year and the only time in the current indoor season before focusing on his preparation for the outdoor season.