Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena tries his luck again as he competes at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF in Lievin, France on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

The 30-year-old Obiena will be aiming for the elusive 5.90-meter mark as the competition, which is part of the prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour, starts at 3 a.m.

If Obiena clears the said height, he will gain an outright berth to the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland from 20 to 22 March.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Jasper Tanhueco told DAILY TRIBUNE they are positive about Obiena’s chances now that he is competing without any complications.

“EJ now is healthy. Unlike his previous season where he was in back pain, I believe they are in the right direction,” Tanhueco said.

“I know that guy really well so we are positive.”

Obiena recently cleared 5.70m at the INIT Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe in Germany to bag the bronze medal.

But tough foes await Obiena as world No. 2 and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece banner the 10-man field.

Also joining are Paris Summer Games silver medalist Sam Kendricks and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Christopher Nilsen, all from the United States.

Completing the cast are KC Lightfoot and Zachary Bradford, also from the US, Sondre Guttormsen of Norway, Kurtis Marschall of Australia, Menno Vloon of the Netherlands and home bet Robin Emig.