By MARK REY MONTEJO
Fil-American Lauren Hoffman boosted her Paris Games bid after clinching the bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles in the 2024 Edmonton Athletics Invitational in Canada, Friday, June 14 (Manila time).
The 25-year-old hurdler clocked 56.10 seconds to finish third behind eventual gold medalist Shana Grebo (55.59) of France and American Milan Young (56.03).
Hoffman’s teammate Robyn Brown wound up fifth in 56.93 seconds.
The Duke Daredevil is holding on to her current ranking of 34th with 1218 points while Brown (1188) is in critical position at 41st.
Only top 40 athletes in the event will qualify to the Paris Olympics.
Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino, who is 28th place in men’s 110m, are expected to be added to the Philippines’ Olympic team which competes for its 100th year since its first appearance in 1924 at the same city.
Meanwhile, Rio Olympian Eric Cray also failed to reach the podium as well, clocking 50.11 seconds for fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles.
American bet James Smith (48.97) ruled the event while Canada’s Malik Metvier (49.07) and Bahrain’s Shakeem Hall-Smith (49.63) settled for silver and bronze, respectively.
The pride of Olongapo City, who is hoping to barge into Top 40, holds 49th place in Road to Paris list, tallying 1202 points under his belt.
Tokyo Olympian Kristina Knott stays in the radar for a return trip to the Olympics as she is ranked No. 39 with 1174 points. The Top 48 athletes will qualify in her event.
But Cray, Brown and Janry Ubas will have until June 30 to make the Olympic criteria in their respective events.
So far, the country has only one representative in athletics in pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
