Filipino-American standout Kristina Knott braved cold weather and kept up with the world-class field as she settled for two silver medals behind Rio Olympics’ veteran Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast Wednesday afternoon (Thursday in Manila) at the International Meeting of the City of Castiglione della Pescaia in Italy.
After Ta Lou, ranked no. 3 in the world, dashed to a 10.96-second gold-medal win in the women’s 100 meter run, the 25-year-old Knott followed behind at 11.30 seconds for the silver.
Ta Lou’s sub-11 second time allowed her to hit the Olympic Qualifying Standard in the event for her best showing of the season.
It was Knott’s second best time of the season, after she endured a cold 16*C temperature and settled down under a generous breeze of +4.0 meters/second.
Later, Ta Lou, a bronze medallist in the World Championships, dominated the 200 meters in 22.88 seconds with a +4.9 meters/second breeze.
Again, Knott was right behind in 23.9 seconds, which was also her second best time of the season.
“We got second in the 100 at 11.30, our second fastest of the season. It was a windy race, +4.0. The winner was 10.96m, a legit competitor Mary Jose Ta Lou. At this point, the objective is to race and place,” said Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin.
Griffin added that Knott’s 23.19 clocking was also her second best of the season, considering the windy condition. Griffin noted that the Fil-Am standout is now improving.
“The rest will come in time. At this point, we have 40 days, which is plenty,” said Griffin.
Knott is still targeting the Olympic qualifying standard of 11.15 seconds in the 100-meters and 22.8 in the 200 meters.
French Cynthia Leduc placed third with 11.39 seconds in the women’s 100m, with fourth place going to Italian relay runner Irene Siragusa in 11.43.
In the the 200 meters, Siragusa made it to third in 23.55 seconds, with Australian Jacinta Beecher trailing in fourth (23.67 seconds).
Knott is now getting ready to return to the United States to join the Jacksonville World Athletics Continental Tour Silver level event.
Last week, Knott ran against the world’s best and ended up in fifth place with a clocking of 23.74 seconds at the International Meeting City of Savona-Memorial Giulio Ottolia in Savona, Italy.
British favorite Dina Asher Smith, who finished fifth in the 2016 Rio Olympics, broke the meet record in 23.06 seconds.
Another British, Beth Dobbin took the silver in 23.06 seconds, while Italian Dalia Kaddari landed third in 23.21 seconds.
Meanwhile, Filipino-Moroccan Yacine Guermali overshadowed another Philippine mark after a second-place finish in the Portland Distance Carnival over the weekend.
Guermali established a new record in the 1,500 meters after clocking three minutes and 43.59 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Mervin Guarte in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.