FILIPINO pole vaulter Ernest John 'EJ' Obiena is now the second best pole vaulter in the world.
Obiena's streak of podium finishes, including three gold medals, this year has catapulted him in the World Athletics rankings.
Based on the latest rankings released by the World Athletics on Thursday, July 20, Obiena now has 1432 points as he overtook American Christopher Nilsen, who has 1428.
Sweden's Armand Duplantis, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder, remains at No. 1 with 1569 points.

American Sam Kendricks (1352) is ranked 4th, while 2016 Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil is ranked 5th. French Renaud Lavillenie, 2012 Olympic champion, ranked 7th (1349).
'Thank you to everyone who made this possible, and my deepest gratitude to those who went to war so that I could continue this dream. This is not just my accomplishment alone, but everyone's,' Obiena wrote on his social media handles.
The 27-year-old Filipino has already qualified for next year's Summer Olympics in Paris, France after clearing 5.82 meters at the Bauhaus Galan in Sweden earlier this month. He also posted a 5.91-meter jump to reset his own meet record at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand last week.
His personal best is 6.0 meters he established when he won the gold meda at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on June 10.