Asian Games: John Tolentino, Kristina Knott barely miss podium

Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 – Athletics – Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Hangzhou, China – October 1, 2023 Philippines’ John Tolentino in action during the men’s 110m hurdles round 1 heat 2

HANGZHOU, China—John Tolentino breezed through the qualifying heats but couldn’t pull through in the medal race on Monday night.

The Filipino-Spanish hurdler crossed the line in fourth place, missing the bronze by a blink in the men’s 110m hurdles finale in the 19th Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

Tolentino, the country’s record holder in the event, clocked 13.62 seconds, just a head slower than gold medalist Yaqoub Alyouha of Kuwait and second-placer Shunya Takayama of Japan, who both registered identical times of 13.41.

China’s Xu Zhuoyi copped the bronze in 13.50.

FILE – Southeast Asian Games – Athletics – New Clark Athletic Stadium, Capas, Philippines – December 7, 2019 Philippines’ Knott Kristina Marie celebrates after winning the women’s 200m final REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Kristina Knott likewise punched a ticket to the finals but missed the medal stand by a fraction of a second in the women’s 200m.

The former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist arrived in sixth place in 23.79 seconds behind the podium finishers led by Singapore’s Veronica Shanti Pereira.

Pereira, the SEA Games record holder in the event, won it by a head in 23.03 seconds, overshadowing China’s Li Yuting (23.28) and Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong (23.48).