Sprinter Kristina Knott pushed the Philippine Tokyo 2020 Olympic delegation to 15 as she nabbed a universality place in the women’s 200-meter run of the quadrennial meet on Wednesday, June 23.

Knott earned one of four universality places after failing to directly qualify via the entry standard time of 22.80 seconds in the event.

The Filipino-American became a prime bet for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after she smashed the Southeast Asian Games record twice in one day in the women’s 200m event.

She also holds the Philippine record of 23.01 seconds from the country’s hosting of the regional biennial meet back in 2019.

Knott joins pole vaulter EJ Obiena, the first Filipino to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in representing Philippine athletics in the biggest global sports showpiece that will be staged from July 23 to August 8.

The other 13 Filipino Olympians include gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, and Carlo Paalam, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, rower Cris Nievarez, shooter Jayson Valdez, golfer Juvic Pagunsan, and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.

Reigning US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan await the women’s golf rankings for Olympic qualification. – Rappler.com