After back-to-back bronze medal finishes, EJ Obiena struggled, failing to make it to the medal podium of the Gyulai Istvan Memorial 2022 in Hungary late Monday.
The 27-year-old Obiena — the No. 3 pole vaulter in the world — registered a dismal 5.45 meters to fall out of the top three against a star-studded field.
World record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden again emerged victorious with 5.80 meters while Renaud Lavillenie of France finished second at 5.70 meters.
Another French vaulter in Thibaut Collet wound up third with 5.60 meters.
Meanwhile, World Athletics Championships silver medalist Chris Nilsen of the United States is at fifth with 5.45 meters while teammate Olen Tray Oates finished with the same mark but settled for sixth via countback.
Hometown bet Marcell Nagy did not start in the tournament while Obiena’s training partner Thiago Braz of Brazil failed to clear 5.30 meters.
Obiena has yet to top a track meet since winning the Jump and Fly tournament in Germany last July where he cleared 5.80 meters.
He, however, grabbed the bronze medal in two crucial tourneys — the World Athletics Championships, where he cleared 5.75 meters, and the Silesia Wanda Diamond League, where he soared with 5.73 meters.