Tolentino, Hoffman pass hurdles, earn slots to Paris

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippines will have 22 valiant bets to the Paris Olympics slated July 26 to Aug. 11 after hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman secured tickets to the French capital.

Tolentino made the cut after ranking 30th of the 40 qualifiers in the men’s 110-meter hurdles while Hoffman was 39th of 40 in the women’s 400m hurdles.

The track pair joins pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, the first Filipino to qualify to the quadrennial event.

Sprinter Kristina Knott did not make the cut in the 200m but there’s a long shot she could still make it assuming withdrawals occur come the deadline of submission of changes on July 7.

Already in are boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Ceniza, rower Joanie Delgaco, fencer Sam Catantan, tankers Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, and golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina.