Asian Games: Kristina Knott zooms to women’s 200m final

FILE – The Philippines’ Kristina Marie Knott. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

HANGZHOU, China—Kristina Knott bounced back from a frustrating sprint in the women’s 100m the other day to clinch a spot in the finals of her pet event on Sunday in the 19th Asian Games.

Knott, the country’s 200m record holder, didn’t disappoint this time, clocking 24.02 seconds in the qualifying heats at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

The two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist crossed the line behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who topped their heat in 23.74.

The women’s 200m gold-medal race is scheduled Monday with Chinese sprinter Li Yuting (23.67) the heavy favorite along with Kazakhstan’s Olga Safronova (23.71).

The 28-year-old Knott, a Filipino-heritage trackster from Orlando, Florida, missed the finals of the 100m where she’s the current national record holder.