AFTER posting victories in the last ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships, Tokyo Olympian and sprinter Kristina Knott and middle-distance runner Yacine Guermali are still in the country to train for separate overseas meets for their build-up to the Asian track and field meet in Gumi, South Korea, at the end of the month.
Despite stumbling badly near the finish line, Knott ruled the women’s century dash while Guermali easily topped the men’s 5,000 meters in the meet popularly known as the National Open at the New Clark Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Rather than return to the US, Knott, 30, said she will stay and train at the Philsports track oval in Pasig City before seeing action in the 100 and 200-meter dash in the National Athletic Grand Prix 3, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, from May 14 to 16 in Chongqing, China.
Guermali, 25, will practice and stay at the Vermosa Sports Hub oval in Imus, Cavite, where top pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena trains while in the country, then will run in the prestigious Seiko Golden Prix on May 18 in Yokohama, Japan.
Both are expected to join Obiena, reigning Asian women’s 400-meter hurdles titleholder Robyn Brown, a triple gold medalist at the National Open; and shot put thrower Willie Morrison in the Asian meet scheduled May 27 to 31 in the birthplace of former South Korean President Park Chung-hee.
Obiena, who topped the Patafa Pole Vault Challenge at Vermosa with an outdoor season best of 5.80 meters last Tuesday, said he will also train at the same facility while he and his coaching staff, led by revered Ukrainian mentor Vitaly Petrov, await the release of their South Korean visas.
“The South Korean Federation has graciously allowed me and my coaching personnel to train in Gumi before the Asian meet,” said the athlete, who won the gold in the 2023 edition of the competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, in a continental record of 5.91 meters.
“Once we get our visas, then we will book our flights for South Korea as soon as possible.”
