Hoffman, Knott set sights on World tilt in Tokyo

From Malaya Business Insight | Author Bong Pedralvez

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.

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