A Filipino trackster has cracked an entry to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics via a universality slot reserved for a country just in case not one Filipino athlete can make it to this field of sport through the Olympic qualifying time.
Kristina Knott has the best performance and holds the highest ranking in the Philippine Track and Field Team, so the slot was handed over by the Philippine Track and Field Association to the 25-year-old national team standout.
Philip Ella Juico, President of the Philippine Track and Field Association confirmed, “Yes, they will have a chance especially si Kristina Knott. Especially her. There is one opening for one female athlete in track and field if there is no one that would qualify.”
But if it were for Knott, Juico revealed that she would rather qualify for the quadrennial meet through other means.
“Halos nandiyan na. That is what’s called the universality principle… She doesn’t want to qualify as much as possible via the universality principle. She wants to qualify via qualification or ranking,” Juico revealed.
Knott will be joining around two more Olympic qualifying races this month. – Report by Mae Ann Fajardo/ JBB-rir
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