Obiena finishes seventh to start Diamond League campaign

Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena finished in seventh place in the Xiamen leg of the Diamond League after tallying 5.62 meters at the Xiamen Egret Stadium in China Saturday evening (Manila time).

It took the 29-year-old Obiena two tries to clear 5.62 meters to start his campaign in one of the biggest annual athletics tournament in the world.

The two-time Olympian tried to get over 5.72 meters but failed after three tries.

World record holder and multiple-time champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden dominated the 11-man field after going over 5.92m for first place.

Paris Olympics bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece took the silver medal over Menno Vloon of the Netherlands via countback despite both of them posting 5.82m.

Obiena will have another chance to bounce back in China as the second leg will be held in Shanghai, which will be on 3 May at the Shanghai Stadium.