Track stars could up number of PH bets in Paris to 23

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. grants a photo opportunity with officials and Philippine Olympians and Philippine Paralympians as they were sent off for Paris Olympics. –HANDOUT PHOTO

The final count of Philippine bets in the Paris Olympics could swell to 23 as three more athletics aces are just awaiting confirmation of inclusion on July 7.

Hurdlers John Cabang and Lauren Hoffman are within reach of Olympic berths after comfortably staying inside the qualification circle in their respective events with sprinter Kristina Knott clinging onto the last available spot in the women’s 200 meters that could propel her to a second straight Olympics appearance.

When they all get in, Team Philippines will bring at least 23 athletes from nine sports in the coming global sports spectacle set from July 26 to August 11 in the world’s fashion capital.

Cabang, a full-blooded Filipino based in Spain, is tucked safely at No. 29 out of 40 qualifiers at the end of the men’s 110m hurdles race for Olympic rankings, capping his qualification journey with a victory in the Spanish Club Championships last month.

He nearly reset his own Philippine record of 13.37 seconds with a 13.38 performance during the meet.

The Filipino-American Hoffman is ranked 36th, well inside the top 40 Olympic qualifiers in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Hoffman, the national standard-bearer in her event at 55.72 seconds, wrapped up the quest for Paris by placing third in the Edmonton Athletics Invitational in Canada on June 13.

‘[N]o easy feat’

“The list of those who made it to Paris will be released a week later. Our athletes have done their best and it was no easy feat,’’ said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano.

Bidding for another trip to the Games, Knott is at No. 48, which is the number of Olympic berths to be given away in the women’s 200m.

Out of qualification range after Sunday’s cutoff are former Asian champion and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympian Eric Cray (No. 47 out of 40 in the men’s 400m hurdles), Asian champion Robyn Brown (No. 47 out of 40 in the women’s 400m hurdles) and long jumper Janry Ubas (No. 44 out of 32 qualifiers).

With 23 possible Filipino Olympians in Paris, the number eclipsed the PH athlete delegation of 20 in Tokyo 2020 when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz captured the first gold medal for the nation. INQ