NEW CLARK CITY – Kristina Knott remains confident about her bid to make the Tokyo Olympics next year.
The Fil-Am sprinter said she will still try to meet the Olympic qualifying standard in her other event in the 30th Southeast Asian Games as she competes in the 100-meter event on Sunday evening at the New Clark City Aquatics Center.
While she won the women’s 200-meter race Saturday with a new meet record of 23.01 seconds, her clocking still fell short of the qualifying standard of 22.80 seconds.
Doing it in the century dash may be a difficult task but not impossible.
The Olympic standard in the 100-meter event is 11.15 seconds.
“I wasn’t focused on anybody else. I was trying to run against the clock, but it beat me,” said Knott of her race in the 200-meter run.
“We prepared for it. That’s all I’ve been focusing on the entire year. We wanted to get the Olympic standard, we fell kinda short, but let’s see if how she gets, since she’s capable of getting it,” said Knotts’ coach Rohsaan Griffin.
If Knott fails in her second attempt, she still has six months left to attain her goal.
“I have until June to make it. It’s less than a year but I’m going back to training after this,” she said. “Hopefully, I can train somewhere magnificent.”
Knott will return to the US on Dec. 12.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena is so far the only trackster to have clinched a berth to the Tokyo Games.
Like Knott, Obiena won the SEA Games gold in his event by clearing the bar at 5.45 meters for a new meet record.