SEA Games: Kayla Richardson skips 100m dash, targets 200m gold

Kayla Anise Richardson of the Philippines (center) finishes first for the gold medal at the 28th SEA Games Women’s 100m finals held at the National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub. INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

KUALA LUMPUR — In an apparent strategic shift, reigning century dash queen Kayla Richardson won’t defend her Southeast Asian Games crown and instead will concentrate on 200-meter and the relays.

The 17-year-old Richardson said she didn’t train for the 100m dash — easily the showcase event of centrepiece sport of athletics.

“I don’t really want to say that I am giving it up, but this is not the event I have been training for,” said Richardson, who snared silver in 200m right after her century dash triumph two years ago.

The team is looking at finally clinching the 200m gold this time and save the University of Southern California sophomore for possible golds in 4X100 and 4×400  relays.

READ: With a heart for old people, Richardson twins hope to run to golden finish

She will be running in the relays with twin sister Kyla, Katherine Santos and either Eloisa Luzon or another Fil-American Zion Nelson Corrales.

Kayla, according to her father Jeffrey, has a personal best of 23.60 seconds in 200m but ran 23.45 “with a little tailwind.”

Her expected opponent in 200m is Singaporean champion Shanti Perreira, who won it with a time of 23.60 seconds two years ago in her backyard.