CAPAS, Tarlac — Lauren Hoffman and Kristina Knott — the country’s representatives in the past three editions of the Summer Olympics — will plunge into action as the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships unwrap on Thursday at the New Clark City Stadium here.

Hoffman, who saw action in the 2024 Paris Summer Games, will be gunning for her third straight gold medal after dominating the past two editions in Ilagan City in Isabela in 2023 and Pasig City last year.

The 26-year-old Duke University alumnus will be entering the meet determined to win as she aims to bury her heartache in the Paris Olympics, where she failed to make past the preliminary heats due to foot injury.

Although Hoffman is tagged as the favorite to dominate the women’s 400-meter hurdles event, which start with the preliminary heats at 2:10 p.m. and the final heats at 8:10 p.m., she is expected to have a tough time as she squares off with Asian Athletics Championships gold medalist Robyn Brown.

Brown, 30, will be a tough opponent for Hoffman as she clinched a bronze medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila and the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

Also competing in the country’s annual athletics meet will be Knott, who will be vying for the gold medal in the women’s 200m starting at 4 p.m. with the final round set at 6:50 p.m.

With this year’s Philippine Athletics Championships also featuring athletes from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Taiwan, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) secretary general Jasper Tanhueco expects the Filipino tracksters to go all-out as they compete not just for their personal glory but for national pride as well.

“This year, this is the first time it will be held in a world-class facility. Expect the competition to have a greater performance for our athletes,” Tanhueco said.

“This is our primary selection for the SEA Games in Thailand and the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.”

Aside from the SEA Games and the Asian Youth Games, those who will submit solid performances will also be given slots in the national squad that will compete in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from 13 to 21 September.

Tanhueco said having the athletic meet at the New Clark City Stadium adds to the competitive atmosphere.

“World Athletics has an entry standard and the rankings for the World Championships are like those in the Olympics. They will be given points based on their performances,” Tanhueco said.

“It is in category B, so there will be a lot of points to be handed out.”

“We are expecting a very high level of competition this year, with many strong foreign teams participating. Athletes will also benefit from a dedicated warm-up track and world-class facility.”