New Philippine sprint queen Kristina Knott was the relatively easier challenge when she broke the national record twice in the women’s 60-meter event of the KMS Invitational Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama last Monday.
But this weekend, the 25-year-old Knott will be in a more demanding event when she sees action in the Arkansas leg of the World Athletics Silver Tour at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.
The event this weekend offers opportunities for professional athletes to return to competition in preparation for an Olympic year.
“All 3 races were won by a considerable margin and it was more to see where our training and fitness levels are. The only strategy was to be consistent and she accomplished that by running all three rounds in the same time range,” said Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin in an online interview with the Manila Standard.
During the KMS meet, Knott eclipsed the Philippine mark established by retired sprint queen Lydia de Vega back in 1988.
In the finals, Knott took the gold with a lower time of 7.32 seconds, with Ashley Kelly taking the silver in 7.62 seconds, and Jasmine Riley settling for the bronze in 7.67 seconds at the Metrocross Plex tracks in Birmingham, Alabama.
De Vega held the national indoor record after she clocked 7.37 seconds in Japan 23 years ago.
Knott, who has already shattered three Philippine records set by De Vega, topped the first heat in 7.33 seconds, beating Ashanti Tigner’s 7.76, and Amanda Lowe (7.81).
Griffin said that if Knott does well, she will have a chance to join two more legs of the the American Track league.
“For KK, there are two more opportunities to compete in the American Track league. But it’s based on if they extend another invite if her performance is good enough,” explained Griffin.