Asian Games: Pinay sprinter Kristina Knott sets sights on Lydia de Vega’s record

JAKARTA—Kristina Knott failed to medal in the 2018 Asian Games — her maiden stint for the Philippines national team — but that won’t stop the US-based Filipina track star from setting a big goal for herself in the coming year.

Knott, 22, ran a season-best 23.45 seconds to qualify for the semifinal of the women’s 200-meters at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in this city. She made it all the way to the finals, but could only muster a sixth-place finish there with a time of 23.51 seconds.

Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong (22.96-s) won the gold, followed by Dutee Chand of India (23.20-s), and Wei Yongli of China (23.27-s).

“I had it in the beginning,” said Knott, who had the fastest reaction time among the eight finalists but could not keep up the pace. “Looking back, I just couldn’t hold on to it.”

But the former University of Miami athlete pointed out that she ran the race after just five weeks’ worth of preparation.

“I know what I need to do and what I need to work on,” she said.

Knott’s time was fastest among all Southeast Asian runners; the only other Southeast Asian runner to qualify for the final, Quach Thi Lan of Vietnam, had a time of 23.77 seconds.

The next goal for Knott is to compete in the SEA Games in the Philippines next year, where she will try to eclipse the national record of 23.35 seconds set by legendary Lydia de Vega in 1986.

“We need time, we need time,” said Knott about the record. “I need more than five weeks. Wait 'til the SEA Games, it's coming. Maybe even before, but for sure in the SEA Games.”

“I will be breaking the record soon,” she promised. “Obviously not now, but give me a little bit more time.”

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