MAAGANG natapos ang Olympic dream ni sprinter at Fil-American Kristina Knott nang tumapos na panlima lang sa Round 1 preliminaries ng women’s 200-meter event sa Japan National Olympic Stadium kahapon ng umaga.
Nakapagtala lang ang 25-anyos mula Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands ng 23.80 segundo, malayo sa nanguna sa heat na si Jenna Prandini ng USA (22.56s).
Nangako naman si Knott kay Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Ella Juico na babawi siya sa 2024 Paris Olympics.
Halatang nadismaya maging ang kampo ng Fil-Am na may hawak ng Philippine record sa women’s 100 at 200-meter run, sa early exit nito sa Tokyo Games.
“This is her first Olympic Games. She could have been battling a lot of things. It could have been the extreme heat. It could have been nerves. I’m not trying to pinpoint an excuse, or give a set of answers. It was an awful performance. It wasn’t what we expected. But people need to realize this is the world stage,” tanging nasabi ni Coach Roshaan Griffin sa pagkabigo ni Knott na mapasama sa 24 runners na umusad sa semifinals kahapon din.
Agad isinugod si Knott sa Medical Station nang pagkaraang makarating sa finish line ay nagsuka at nahilo ito dahil umano sa heat stress.
“She suffered heat exhaustion. Nag-stay muna after the race sa medical station sa stadium for about an hour. Rehydrated. She felt ill even before the gunstart. After crossing the finish line she was vomiting and dazed,” paliwanag ni Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Marketing and Communications Director Edward Kho, na nagsabi pang okey na ngayon ang dalaga. (ANN ENCARNACION)
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