The Philippine Athletics Track And Field Association (PATAFA) announced that two-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Kristina Knott, together with Yacine and Said Guermali, will miss the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
In an announcement on Monday, May 2, PATAFA said Knott’s non-participation which ended her bid for another title is “due to a torn plantar fasciitis which will require rest.”
The national athlete holds a record in the 200-meter event with 23.07 seconds in the 2019 games, and another in the 100-meter dash at 11.27 seconds surpassing a 35-year record held previously by the legendary Lydia de Vega.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Filipino-American Yacine Guermali, who is a redshirt junior at Gonzaga University and was a member of the West Coast Conference 1st Team All-WCC, will not participate in the biennial event “due to academics.”
Yacine, who currently holds the 1,500-meter Philippine record turning in a 3:43.59 in the Portland Distance Carnival Competition, was a 2019 and 2021 NCAA West Region Preliminary Qualifier and was scheduled to compete in the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events.
PATAFA said Yacine’s older brother, Said, who is set to compete in the 800-meter event will miss Hanoi games “due to plantar fasciitis.” AG-gb
