Knott breaks Phl indoor record

Filipino-American sprinter Kristina Knott came up with an impressive finish to reset the national indoor record in the women's 200-meter run over the weekend.

Knott, who represented the country in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, clocked 23.57 seconds to finish sixth in the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

In the process, the 28-year-old national team member eclipsed the previous indoor record of 23.90 seconds set by another Fil-Am in Zion Corrales-Nelson in the MPSF Championships in Seattle in 2020.

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association congratulated Knott for her feat, which came days after Spain-based trackster John Cabang Tolentino smashed the national indoor record in men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.64 seconds during the 11th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Aftab Enghelab Sport Complex, Tehran.

Prior to that, Tolentino clocked 7.73 seconds in the same event at the Euskadi Indoor Meet in San Sebastian to surpass the national record of 7.96 seconds posted by Eric Cray in the Cherry and Silver meet in Albuquerque back in 2014.

Both Tolentino and Knott are looking to join Europe-based pole vaulter EJ Obiena in the Paris Olympics starting 26 July.

Knott needs to clock in 11.07 seconds and 22.57 seconds in the 100m and 200m events, her pet events, respectively, to book her return flight to the Summer Games.

"Another record! National athlete Kristina Knott set a new Philippine indoor record (pending ratification) in the 200m with a time of 23.57 seconds at the Arkansas Qualifier, Fayetteville last February 16, 2024!" Patafa posted.

"Expect even better performances from her this year as she continues to strive for Olympic qualification. Good luck, KK!"