FILIPINO-American sprinter Kristina Knott fared well in an unscheduled meet recently before heading to Europe to resume her Olympic qualifying campaign in two high-caliber events in Italy, beginning with the 10th Meeting International Cittí di Savona in Savona Italy today (early tomorrow in Manila).
A 30th Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist, Knott made her move halfway through the women’s 200-meter dash to win the event in 23.31 seconds in the finals of the Pure Athletics Sprint Meet last May 2 at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.
Her time was slightly off her national record of 23.01 seconds set in the 30th SEA Games two years ago at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac as well as the Olympic qualifying standard of 22.80 seconds.
“We actually competed unexpectedly in the first week of May. We needed to compete coming into this week but didn’t want any outside pressure so we didn’t tell anyone but internal personnel,” American coach Rohsaan Griffin said. “It was a last-minute decision.
Two days before the meet, we decided to run.
“The time is still one of her top performances at 200 meters. She is in very good shape and ran very well. Sometimes you have to just dial in and separate yourself from the pressure and perform. And that’s what she did.
“So going into this week we are very positive seeing how last week went together with her training,” Griffin, a consultant of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association since 2016, said shortly before leaving for Italy with the athlete last Tuesday.
The coach said aiding them in their campaign in Italy is noted Italian sprinter Irene Siragusa, Knott’s training partner in her buildup for the 30th SEA Games.
Siragusa won a gold medal with the Italian squad in the 4×100-meter relay in the World Athletics Relays last May 1 to 2 in Chorzow, Poland and bagged the gold medal in the women’s 200-meter run in the 2017 University Games in Taiwan.
