RECOVERING from injuries, Paris Olympic Games veteran Lauren Hoffman and sprinter and Tokyo Olympian Kristina Knott hope to spring back into action in time to qualify for the 20th World Athletic Championships set Sept. 13 to 21 at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Hoffman, who placed second to Robyn Lauren Brown in the women’s 4000-meter hurdles at the ICTSI Philippine Athletic Championships at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac last May, is now healthy and pain-free, according to FILAM Sports head Bo Navarro.
“For the first time in a long time, I am training healthy again. I just finished three full weeks of training, which is a huge win for me,” Navarro quoted the former Duke University varsity standout as saying.
Navarro said that Hoffman, 26, is looking at potential athletic meets in Europe and is hopeful of competing again soon.
“I would still love to qualify for the world champs. Despite all the obstacles I’ve encountered this past year with my health, I think I can still achieve this goal of mine. Even though it will be tough to do, I think it is important to dream big and believe in yourself,” the hurdler said.
To book a ticket to the worlds, Hoffman, who holds a personal best of 55.47 seconds in her pet event, needs to make the qualifying standard of 54.65 seconds on or before the Aug. 24 cutoff date or make it to the top 40 athletes based on the World Athletics world ratings by that day.
This process will require competing in WA-sanctioned meets to earn ranking points, which is similar to the route she took in making it to the Paris Olympics.
Knott, 29, who suffered a bad spill in ruling the women’s 200-meter race in the ICTSI PH trackfest, has been back with American mentor Rohsaan Griffin, who is credited for the athlete qualifying for the Tokyo Summer Games four years ago.
“KK (Knott’s nickname) has been with me for almost three years now. She had an outstanding indoor season campaign then took that fall at the Nationals. That set us back a little,” Griffin said.
“She’s had her best and strongest fall training ever and hit some key personal bests in the process,” Griffind added. “She’s had an amazing training group to help push her and grasp a new training philosophy. She adjusts well and I’m excited to see what’s ahead.
“She’s on course to have a great season going into the (Thailand) Southeast Asian Games.”
The 2019 Philippine SEA Games double gold medalist holds both the national records in the 100 and 200-meter sprints of 11.27 and 23.01 seconds, respectively, the latter close to the WA meet qualifying standard of 22.57 seconds in an event where 48 slots are up for grabs.
Knott clocked 23.82 seconds in placing sixth in the women’s 200-meter finals of the 26th Asian Athletic Championships in Gumi, South Korea last May.
Similar to the case of Hoffman, the athlete needs to either meet the qualifying time on or before Aug. 24 or be among the top 48 in the world ranking by that cut-off date.
The only outright Filipino qualifier for the worlds thus far is pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, who has exceeded the qualifying height of 5.82 meters when he cleared 5.90 in placing fourth at the Paris Olympics last August 2024.
