Kristina Knott breezes to the 200m gold in the 2019 SEA Games. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Kristina Knott is relaxed but focused as she buckles down and continued her training at Transcosmos Track and Field Stadium Wednesday in Isahaya City in southern Nagasaki.
The University of Miami star didn’t mind Japan’s summer temperatures that ranged from 32 degrees to 34 degrees as she ran around the oval to begin her training for the 200 meters in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Knott said the blazing heat will help her get acclimated to the weather she would face at National Stadium in Kasumigaoka in Tokyo’s Shinjuku area.
“Convenient” was how Knott described her training venue during a Facebook Live stream but she’ll only be in the stadium until Monday with local authorities set to use Transcosmos as a COVID-19 vaccination facility for the local residents.
Knott, who tested positive for COVID-19 last month, will move to another venue to further prepare for her event together with coach Rohsaan Griffin and strength and conditioning coach Carlo Buzzichelli.
“She’s relaxed but focused,” said Edward Kho, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association marketing and communications chief. “I like her state of mind going into the competition.”
“It was a great opening day. We had a good session on both the weight room and the track,” said Griffin.
Knott and her coaches will travel to Shimabara Municipal Oval to resume their training.