VIRGINIA-BASED Lauren Hoffman has a great chance of qualifying and representing the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 24-year-old Hoffman has two options to make it to the Philippine delegation and she is keen on grabbing the opportunities available for her to be able to get there.
Hoffman said this after breaking one one of two Philippine national records over the weekend when she and Yacine Guermali saw action in the Hokie Indoor Invitationals in the Rector Fieldhouse in her own hometurf in Blacksburg, Virginia.
After joining six women’s 400-meter hurdle events last year, Hoffman, has earned world quota rank of no. 31, three ahead of Robyn Brown (34), who is from Chino Hills, California.
A total of 40 will be picked by the International Association Athletics Federation to be part of the Paris meet if they stay within qualification ranking range or if they hit the entry standard time of 54.85 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles between July 2023 to June 2024.
“So, I really have the ranking right now. But I really have to make sure that I hold that up until the Olympics, or I just hit the standard, and won’t have to worry about it,” said Hoffman in an interview with the Manila Standard.
Hoffman discussed her Olympic chances after she ran the 600-meter finals in one minute and 30.31 seconds, more than six seconds ahead of the old national mark of 1:36.93, which Daniela Quintero set in the On Your Mark meet in Sta. Barbara, California, back in 2020.
Hoffman, who is from Haymarket, Virginia, went on finish second place behind Duke University Lauren Tolbert (1:30.29), and ahead of Dutch runner Madison Mulder (1:30.36).
When the indoor season ends, Hoffman will see action in four IAAF meets to earn points and maybe the hit the entry standard time.
After getting a Philippine passport and earning her eligibility to represent the country, Hoffman plunged into action in the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
She made it to the fifth place in the women’s 400-meter hurdles finals with time of 57.21 seconds.
Hoffman was with the 4×400 meter relay team which later landed fifth.
This year, Hoffman said she looks forward to the Philippine National Open this May, because this will be among the events that will help her bid towards qualification.
