World’s top pole vaulters make history at Ayala Triangle
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Top-ranked pole vaulters from around the world will gather at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City today, Sept. 21, to compete in the globally-sanctioned Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge—a first in Philippine sports history.
Led by Filipino pole vault legend EJ Obiena, nine international athletes will take turns clearing the bar at the Ayala Triangle, with its lush park and the iconic Makati Stock Exchange as their backdrop.
The roster includes Olympians and World Championships medalists such as World No. 5 Ersu Sasma from Turkey and World No. 6 Menno Vloon from the Netherlands, and Obiena, currently World No. 7.
Also in the Philippines for the competition are France’s Thibaut Collet (No. 12), Belgium’s Ben Broeders (No. 13), American Austin Miller (No. 14), Poland’s Piotr Lisek (No. 15), Germany’s Oleg Zernikel (No. 16), and USA’s Matt Ludwig (No. 23).*
Ersu Sasma from Turkey
Menno Vloon from the Netherlands
Thibaut Collet from France
Ben Broeders from Belgium
Austin Miller from USA
Piotr Lisek from Poland
Oleg Zernikel from Germany
Matt Ludwig from USA
Ersu Sasma from Turkey
Menno Vloon from the Netherlands
Thibaut Collet from France
Ben Broeders from Belgium
Austin Miller from USA
Piotr Lisek from Poland
Oleg Zernikel from Germany
Matt Ludwig from USA
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Fresh from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, they will compete in a street vaulting format at the event, officially sanctioned by the World Athletics Continental Tour-Bronze Category. They will earn ranking points for their participation.
Except for homegrown Obiena, the athletes are visiting the Philippines for the first time.
The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge realizes Obiena’s dream of hosting a globally sanctioned pole vault event in the Philippines to bring a world-class athletic experience to Filipino sports fans and showcase the country’s viability as an international sporting venue.
The event was made possible by Obiena’s collaboration with the Ayala Foundation and the MVP Sports Foundation, which align in their goal to develop more Filipino world champs and uplift Philippine sports.
“It’s finally happening! I can’t wait for Filipino sports fans to witness world-class pole vaulting right in the heart of the city,” said Obiena.
The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge will also be aired on RPTV and livestreamed via the Pilipinas Live App and One Sports' YouTube channel, with catch up airing available on One Sports and One Sports+.
For more information about the event, visit https://worldpolevaultph.com/.
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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Atletang Ayala.
