By Dion Fetalvero

PHOTO: Agence France-Presse

Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena bowed out of the competition after failing to clear the 5.80-meter mark in the men’s pole vault finals, Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.

The sixth seed in the world did not find his top-rhythm after finishing his finals campaign with a peak height of 5.70 meters.



This clearance was short of his personal best and national record of 5.87 meters that was recorded at the Irena Szewinska Memorial-Bydgoszcz Cup in Poland.

The SEA Games champion Obiena, had troubles with his third attempt of the 5.80-meter bar after sensing that the uprights were moving.

Obiena disputed with the athletics event committee and was given another opportunity to clear the bar but he failed it in his final attempt. 

World record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden bagged the gold after clearing 6.02 meters with no faults prior. 



The Swedish athlete attempted to beat his world record of 6.18 meters in the Olympic stage but narrowly hit the bar before he landed.

Christopher Nielsen of USA and Rio Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil ranked second and third place in the event  respectively.