Lauren Hoffman (left) and Robyn Brown eye Paris Olympics berths. (PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK)
Hurdlers Robyn Lauren Brown and Lauren Hoffman might not need the universality rule to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Brown, the current Asian championship gold medalist in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, and Hoffman are well inside the world ranking cutoff for outright tickets to the glamorous French capital in July.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I really hope I can qualify and make that trip,’’ said Brown, now ranked 34th in the world in her event.
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The Los Angeles-based trackster is within range since the top 40 entries based on these placings will represent their country in this year’s Summer Games.
The 24-year-old Hoffman, who recently broke the national indoor record in the women’s 400 m, has a better ranking in the 400-m hurdles at No. 31, potentially giving the country a pair of possible qualifiers in the same event in Paris.
If Brown and Hoffman could keep it up until the qualification window closes on June 30, they’ll be parading with pole vaulter EJ Obiena during the Games.
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“[T]here’s a chance that we could send three to four qualifiers to the Olympics,’’ said Philippine Athletics president Terry Capistrano.
Aside from these lady hurdlers, long jumper Janry Ubas and hurdler John Cabang Tolentino are likewise making a strong bid based on their present rankings.
Ubas, the Southeast Asian Games champion, climbed to No. 21 from No. 53 with the top 32 long jumpers in the world bound for Paris while Tolentino, the national record holder in the men’s 110-m hurdles, is ranked 32nd in his event where 40 entries secure the Olympic slot.
“For them to get in, either they hit the standard or qualify in terms of rankings and points. Our goal is to hit either of the two,’’ said Philippine Athletics secretary general Jasper Tanhueco.
Mandatory spots
The Olympics normally open a pair of mandatory spots—one male and a female—in athletics and swimming through universality for countries that failed to send a qualifier to the Games.
With four months to go before the qualification deadline, Brown and Hoffman should progress to the Games by clocking at least 54.85 seconds in the races sanctioned by World Athletes as Olympic qualifiers.
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Tolentino should advance by running at least 13.27 seconds while Ubas must jump 8.27 meters to cement an Olympic berth.
“Both (Tolentino and Ubas) will compete in the Asian indoor championships and are currently in a good position to qualify to Paris, especially Janry,’’ said Tanhueco.
The Olympics normally open a pair of mandatory spots—one male and a female—in athletics and swimming through universality for countries that failed to send a qualifier to the Games.