Fil-American Kristina Knott and Janry Ubas were battling personal issues, but still came through with golden performances in the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ Test Event in Athletics late Saturday at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium.
The 24-year-old Knott, who in the future is hoping to clinch a berth to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, posted a time of 24.43 seconds to beat fellow Fil-Am campaigner Kayla Richardson (26.18). Brunei’s Maziah Mahisin settled for the bronze.
In the 4×400-meter relays, Knott salvaged a bronze with teammates Eloisa Luzon, Jessel Lumapas and Maureen Schrijvers with a time of 3:51.62, behind gold winner Thailand (3:43.56) and silver medalist Malaysia (3:44).
“Training has really been hard. I hope I hit it,” said the Knott, who bucked some minor injuries she refused to complain about.
“Kristina Knott is still undergoing treatment for some issues. She still has to peak. She should be ready in four weeks for the 200 meters and the relays,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Juico.
Meanwhile, Ubas leaped to his season-best 7.52 meters to clinch the gold in the long jump, where beat fellow locals Aries Toledo (7.49m) and Algin Gomez (6.83m).
“Janry Ubas had a lot of problems to tackle back home in Cagayan de Oro and couldn’t focus on training as much as he and the coaching staff wanted, but he still did well. Janry has two events, long jump and the big one, decathlon. His long-jump performance will certainly earn quite a bit of points to put him within striking distance of the podium in decathlon,” said Juico.
Reigning champion Tran Ti Yen Hoa of Vietnam edged Filipina Melissa Escoton for the gold in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.04 seconds.
In the men’s side, Malaysian Rayzam Shah Bin Wan Sofian clinched the gold with 14.50 seconds, slower than his 13.13-second performance during the Kuala Lumpur edition of the games in 2017. His local counterpart Alvin Vergel came in 14.57 seconds for the silver.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s men’s squad, topped the 4×400 meter relays, after three of four members of the team that claimed the gold in 2017 led the team to the gold (3:08.71) against bets from the Vietnam (3:09.76) and the Philippines (3:10.47).