After posting a new record, new Philippine sprint queen Kristina Knott decide to skip the finals of the women’s 60-meter and 200-meter run in the Arkansas leg of the World Athletics Silver Tour indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.
The 25-year-old Knott clocked 7.22 seconds in the second heat of the 60-meter run to break the Philippine national mark for the third time.
With the schedules of the 60-meter and the 200-meter race close by 16 minutes, Knott deferred from joining the finals of events due to fatigue.
“She’s fine. She ran 7.26 to break the national record again. She has done so three times in the past seven days, throw in travel and fatigue, and it’s a bit much after a seven-month lay off for a weeks’ worth of work,” said Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin in an interview with the Manila Standard after the competitions.
Retired Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado held the national indoor record of 7.37 seconds achieved in Japan 23 years ago.
Knott, who has already shattered three Philippine records set by De Vega, broke her record twice in a row during the KMS Invitational Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama a week ago.
Knott first did it when she topped the first heat in 7.33 seconds, beating Ashanti Tigner’s 7.76, and Amanda Lowe (7.81).
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.
Knott, who could have won the silver if she competed in the 60-meters, will remain in Arkansas, with hopes that she will have another chance to be in the third leg of the World Athletics Silver Tour indoor meet this Sunday.
“We are being smart seizing opportunities and playing the long game. Our focus point is Olympic qualification and this is just one stop of many along the way,” added Griffin.
In the finals, Mikia Brisco, who ruled the first heat, took the top honors after clocking 7.17 seconds.
Hannah Cunliffe, who qualified in the second heat with Knott, settled for the silver in 7.26 seconds, with Caitland Smith nearby at 7.28 seconds.
“Not sure yet we have an opportunity to return to the American Track League next week. But might take the week off from competition just to let her recoup from the travel,” said Griffin.
With Knott absent, Shaunae Miller-Uibo took the gold in the women’s 200-meter run in record-breaking fashion.
Miller-Uibo, who is likely to run the 200m at the Olympics in Tokyo this summer, won in a world-leading and personal best 22.40, according to reports on the official website.
Miller-Uibo’s time was better than 400m hurdler Shamier Little, who clocked a solid 23.40 for second place.
Miller-Uibo’s time is a Bahamian national record, which also tied tied the course record set by Bianca Knight in 2008. It was just 0.07s off the American record set by Gwen Torrence in 1996.
