World's top pole vaulters to compete in Makati

European Championships bronze medalist Ersu Sasma of Türkiye, ranked world no. 5, banners the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge on Sept. 20 to 21 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.

Sasma set a national record of 5.92 meters at the Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) in Berlin last July.

Joining Sasma are other world-class pole vaulters: Menno Vloon (world no. 6), Ernest John "EJ" Obiena (world no. 7), Thibaut Collet (world no. 12), Ben Broeders (world no. 13), Austin Miller (world no. 14), Piotr Lisek (world no. 15), Oleg Zernikel (world no. 16), and Matt Ludwig (world no. 23).

Vloon, who secured gold at the 2025 European Indoor Championships and 2023 European Games, is also a Top 10 athlete.

Obiena, a two-time World Championship medalist and Asian Championships winner and record-holder (5.93m), is the Philippines' representative.

The event is a collaboration between Atletang Ayala and the MVP Sports Foundation, sanctioned by World Athletics Continental Tour-Bronze category.

It is supported by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, World Athletics, and Asian Athletics.