Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Hoffman, Frank break Phl records

Hoffman and Frank’s victorious performanc­es are major boosts to their bids of seeing action in the Paris Olympics this July

- BY IVAN SUING @tribunephl_ivan

Lauren Hoffman and Angel Frank put up a fighting chance for the coveted Olympic spot after they shattered a pair of national records in the Duke Invitation­al Athletics Meet in Durham, North Carolina over the weekend.

Hoffman, a Duke University standout, reset the national record after clocking 13.41 seconds in the women’s 100-meter hurdles while Frank clocked 53.72 seconds to shatter the national record in the women’s 400m run.

With the feat, the 25-year-old Hoffman grabbed the silver medal behind Skyla Wilson’s commanding 13.36 seconds while breaking the 13.65-second mark set by former national team star Sheena Atilano in a race in the United States in 2009.

Not to be outdone, her training partner — Frank — broke the erstwhile record of 53.81 seconds set by Filipino-American sprinter Kayla Richardson in the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut, California in 2017.

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Associatio­n, however, has yet to ratify their respective records.

Still, Hoffman celebrated her record-breaking performanc­e but admitted that she could have done it better.

“PH national record in the 100H. Getting 13.41 seconds is not a PB (personal best) but still a solid opener. Such a fun event, can’t wait to keep working on it,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman and Frank’s victorious performanc­es are major boosts to their bids of seeing action in the Paris Olympics this July.

Hoffman, for one, is at No. 32 in the women’s 400m hurdles event and has to stay in the top 38 to join Ernest John Obiena — the No. 2 pole vaulter in the world — in the Summer Games that opens in Paris on 26 July.

Should Hoffman fail to make it, she has to bank on the endorsemen­t of the Patafa for a wildcard sot via universali­ty rule, the spot that sprinter Kristina Knott occupied for the Tokyo Olympics.

 ?? AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ?? LAUREN Hoffman (left) and Angel Frank make their presence felt after smashing the national records in the women’s 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter run, respective­ly, at the Duke Invitation­al Athletics Meet in Durham, North Carolina.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE LAUREN Hoffman (left) and Angel Frank make their presence felt after smashing the national records in the women’s 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter run, respective­ly, at the Duke Invitation­al Athletics Meet in Durham, North Carolina.
 ?? VALERY HACHE/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ?? StEFANoS tsitsipas savors his third Monte Carlo Masters triumph.
VALERY HACHE/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE StEFANoS tsitsipas savors his third Monte Carlo Masters triumph.

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