THE Philippines’ EJ Obiena continues to strike fears in the hearts of the Olympic favorites.

On Friday, in far away Bottnaryd, Sweden, the Filipino pole vaulter delivered a medal again, this time a golden one as he triumphed in eh Taby Sta Gala Street Pole Vault competitions.

Ranged against reigning Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil,

Obiena cleared 5.80 meters on his first attempt to win via countback against his training partner, who also posted 5.80 meters.

“Another 1st place finish, no rest for the determined,” Obiena posted on his Facebook account.

Obiena tried to shatter his national outdoor mark of 5.87 meter posted in Poland two days ago by attempting 5.90 meters, but the 25-year old pole vault sensation failed.

Obiena opened his bid by clearing 5.60 meters on his first attempt before launching into the 5.80m mark.

The win earned Obiena a berth in the Diamond League meet in Stockholm, Sweden today, where he will be facing the world’s best.

Among those pole vault stars Obiena will face in a preview of Olympics is world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden.

Duplantis dominated the pole vault in last Thursday’s Diamond League meet in Oslo, registering a new meet record of 6.01 meters.

Despite a close first effort at 6.19 meters, Duplantis’ two further vaults fell short.

“The world record’s going to come soon,” said Duplantis in an AFP report. “I like where I am.”

“I’m a month away from the most important meeting of my life… it’s building up to be good. I’m trying not to change anything too much.”

Also seeing action are Sweden’s Melker Svard Jacobsson, France’s Renaud Lavillenie, Poland’s Piotr Lisek, and Americans Sam Kendricks, KC Lightfoot and Chris Nilsen.