Southeast Asian Games double-gold medallist Kristina Knott continued to show a consistent time in the 11.3-second range while competing against a young group of elite sprinters.
This time, the 25-year-old Knott clocked 11.35 seconds in the women’s 100-meter dash during another star-studded race last Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin said the Fil-Am is currently adjusting her techniques, considering that she is facing sprinters who are considered as the top of their class.
“Our issues are all technical and need immediate attention if we are going to continue to progress. No doubt it’s there, but we have to go back to the drawing board from the technical and queuing side and rewire some things so we can get over this hump,” said Griffin.
Knott, who placed fourth in heat and seventh in the finals, ran against an elite field, which included Sha’Carri Richardson, a 21-year-old track star from the Louisiana State University.
After the race, Richardson distinguished herself with her gold-winning feat of 10.72 seconds, which went past the Olympic qualification standard of 11.15 seconds.
Richardson, the 2019 US NCAA Division 1 champion, is now considered as among the top 10 sprinters in the world after she came up with her personal best.
“Went same as the prelim, still her second fastest time ever, twice in one day, 3 times in two weeks,” said Griffin.
Javianne Oliver, who is from the University of Kentucky, also achieved personal bests in the heat at 11.05 second and 11.07 seconds to bag the silver and also breach the Olympic qualifying mark.
Jamaican sprinter Natalla Whyte, settled for the bronze, also with her season’s best 11.6 seconds.
Because of the level of competition that Knott faced, she was not able to join the 200-meter sprints.
Griffin added that they are working Knott’s positioning, so that she will be able to improve on her speed.
Two-time US national champion Jenna Prandini made competition look tight in the women’s 200-meters after she finished in 22.29 seconds for the gold as her effort surpassed the Olympic standard of 22.8 seconds.
Brittany Brown, the 2019 World Championships silver medallist, took the silver in 22.39 seconds, and also eclipsed the OQS.
Candice Hill, the reigning World Under-20 Champion, took the bronze in 22.43 seconds, for another OQS-smashing effort.