Knott starts hunt for Olympic slot

Kristina Knott finally starts her quest for an Olympic slot as she sees action in the KMS Invitationals in Alabama on 25 January.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association chief Philip Ella Juico said the Filipino-American sprinter would be vying in the prestigious event with the goal of shattering the Olympic qualifying time of 22.80 seconds in the women’s 200-meter run.

It’s going to be the first Olympic qualifying event for the reigning Southeast Asian Games champion and Juico believes that she has what it takes to see action in the Summer Games this July.

“She already has a ticket to compete in Alabama. After that, she might also join the American Track League series around February,” Juico said, adding that two-time Olympian Eric Cray will also compete in the same tourney.

“That event is an outdoor tourney with several legs. I think there will be around five legs. All of those events are considered as Olympic qualifiers.”

Knott is one of the national tracksters who is tipped to follow vaulter EJ Obiena in the Summer Games.

Last year, she shattered the long-standing record of legendary Lydia de Vega-Mercado when she clocked 11.27 seconds in the women’s 100-meter run of the Drake Blue Oval Showcase.

Prior to that, she won a pair of gold medals in the 30th SEA Games in 2019, proving that she can compete against the best in the world.

Juico said Knott and her coach, Roshan Griffin, are looking at joining in around 15 races before the Olympic qualifying deadline on 29 June.

“I’ve already talked with her coach and we have already plotted her calendar of competitions,” he said.