Kristina Marie “KK” Knott
The Philippines’ Premier Sprinter and National Record Holder
Born: September 25, 1995, in Orlando, Florida, USA
Events: 60m, 100m, 200m
Represents: Philippines
Personal Bests: 60m – 7.26 (NR), 100m – 11.27 (NR), 200m – 23.01 (NR), 200m Indoor – 23.39 (NR)
Early Life and Background
Kristina Marie Knott—known universally as “KK”—was born on September 25, 1995, in Orlando, Florida. She is the daughter of Harold Knott, an American, and Rizalina Lamb, a Filipina originally from Imus, Cavite, in the Philippines. Growing up in a large, athletically-inclined family with three brothers and one sister, Knott was surrounded by competitive energy from an early age. Her brother Derek went on to play football at Lehigh University, while another brother, Eric, competed on Florida International University’s men’s track and field team.
Though she would eventually become known as one of the fastest women in Southeast Asian history, Knott’s first love was actually basketball. It wasn’t until middle school that she discovered track and field, splitting time between both sports throughout her formative years. At Colonial High School in Orlando, she began to emerge as a promising sprinter. By her senior year, Knott was logging times of 12.19 seconds in the 100m, placing her among the top performers in Central Florida—a hint of the explosive talent that would soon flourish.
Collegiate Career: From Arkansas State to Miami
In 2014, Knott enrolled at Arkansas State University, where she immediately made her mark on the Red Wolves’ track and field program. During her freshman and sophomore seasons (2015–2016), she established herself as a rising talent in NCAA Division I competition. At the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, she competed in the 60-meter dash and finished 15th nationally—a remarkable achievement for an underclassman. She followed that with a 17th-place showing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 100m.
Her breakout came during the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Championships, where Knott dominated the sprints. She captured the outdoor conference titles in both the 100m and 200m, while also finishing second in the 60m and 200m at the indoor conference meet. Her performances earned her the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year award for outdoor track, a recognition of her immediate impact at the collegiate level. To this day, Knott still holds a share of Arkansas State’s indoor 60m record at 7.28 seconds.
Seeking greater challenges and a stronger training environment, Knott transferred to the University of Miami for her junior and senior years (2017–2018). The move proved transformative. Under the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, she continued to refine her technique—particularly her block starts and curve-running efficiency—while competing against elite ACC competition.
At Miami, Knott became an integral part of a dominant women’s sprint program. She was a key member of the 4x100m relay team that won the ACC Championship in 2018, setting conference, championship, and school records with a time of 43.36 seconds. That same year, she contributed to Miami’s ACC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship victory and earned recognition on the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Track & Field All-Academic Team for maintaining a minimum 3.25 GPA while excelling athletically.
Knott graduated from the University of Miami in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing—a fitting complement to the dynamic, expressive athlete she had become.
Embracing Her Heritage: Competing for the Philippines
While still at Miami, Knott made a life-changing decision. Drawn by her maternal heritage and a desire to connect with her Filipino roots, she chose to represent the Philippines in international competition. “The reason for the switch was to get more in touch with my Filipino side,” Knott explained. “I thought what better way to do that than through sport.”
The connection came about organically. Knott reached out to officials of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) through her network of fellow Filipino-American athletes. National team coach Rohsaan Griffin—himself a former accomplished 200m sprinter in the late 1990s—had first heard about Knott through his coaching connections across NCAA Division I programs. “They’re like, ‘Man, she’s good. She has talent,'” Griffin recalled of what his contacts told him.
In May 2018, Knott completed an expedited process to regain her Filipino citizenship. Rather than simply competing for the Philippines from afar, she took the remarkable step of immersing herself in the country and its culture. She began spending extended periods in the Philippines, training alongside her new teammates and experiencing daily life as they did—a commitment that earned the respect of fans and fellow athletes alike.
International Breakthrough: 2018 Asian Games
Knott made her international debut for the Philippines at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, with only five weeks of preparation under her belt with the national team. Despite the abbreviated buildup, she made an immediate statement. In the women’s 200m, Knott became the only Southeast Asian athlete to qualify for the final, where she finished sixth with a time of 23.51 seconds—just 0.24 seconds behind the bronze medalist, Wei Yongli of China.
For a debut on such a grand stage, it was an impressive showing that signaled what was to come. Philippine athletics had found its new standard-bearer in the sprints.
The Crowning Moment: 2019 Southeast Asian Games
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games, hosted by the Philippines in New Clark City, marked Knott’s coronation as the region’s premier female sprinter. Competing before an ecstatic home crowd at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium, she delivered performances that rewrote the record books.
In the 200m heats on the morning of December 7, Knott clocked 23.07 seconds—shattering the SEA Games record of 23.30 set by Thailand’s Supavadee Khawpeag in 2001 and establishing a new Philippine national record. But she was just getting started. That evening, in the final, she improved on her own mark by another six hundredths of a second, crossing the line in 23.01 seconds to claim the gold medal and reset both records again.
Her triumph was made sweeter by the opponent she vanquished. Vietnam’s Le Tu Chinh, the defending champion known as the “Queen of Speed” who had swept the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay in 2017, was relegated to silver with a time of 23.45. Singapore’s Veronica Shanti Pereira took bronze in 23.77.
“I’m just grateful. I prayed for this one. I’m just grateful that I’m seeing my prayers being answered,” Knott said after her victory.
The following day, in the 100m final, Knott came agonizingly close to a sprint double. In a thrilling race, Le Tu Chinh held on for gold in 11.54 seconds, with Knott finishing just 0.01 seconds behind at 11.55 for the silver medal. “My legs went numb, nerves got the best of me,” Knott admitted, having aimed for a feat last achieved by a Filipino in 1995 when Elma Muros-Posadas swept the sprints.
Knott added to her haul with gold in the 4x100m mixed relay alongside Eric Cray, Anfernee Lopena, and Eloiza Luzon, plus another silver in the women’s 4x100m relay. By the end of the Games, she had cemented her status as one of the Philippines’ most decorated track and field athletes—and set records that still stand as of late 2025.
Breaking the Legend’s Record: The 100m National Mark
In Philippine athletics, one name towers above all others: Lydia de Vega, the legendary “Asia’s Sprint Queen” who dominated the region in the 1980s. De Vega’s national records, set during her prime, had stood for over three decades—monuments to an era that many thought would never be surpassed.
On August 29, 2020, at the Drake Blue Oval Showcase in Des Moines, Iowa, Knott did the unthinkable. In a silver medal performance, she clocked 11.27 seconds in the 100m—breaking de Vega’s 33-year-old national record of 11.28 seconds, set at the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta.
The margin was the slimmest possible—just 0.01 seconds—but the significance was immense. Knott had inherited the mantle of the Philippines’ fastest woman, a title that had belonged to de Vega since before Knott was born. The accomplishment was made even more remarkable by its timing: achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Knott was training remotely with coach Rohsaan Griffin and strength and conditioning mentor Carlo Buzzichelli, preparing for an Olympics that had been postponed.
Tokyo 2020: An Olympic Dream Realized
On June 23, 2021, Knott received the news every athlete dreams of: she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Though she had not achieved the direct qualifying standard of 22.80 seconds in the 200m, she earned one of four universality places—reserved for smaller nations—alongside athletes from Pakistan, Singapore, and South Sudan.
In a cruel twist of fate, Knott tested positive for COVID-19 on the very day her Olympic qualification was announced. Fortunately, she was asymptomatic and recovered quickly. “Five days of not training, especially for us, I think it was needed,” coach Griffin reflected. “We competed a lot this year. We’ve traveled a lot. I think it was just God’s way of saying, ‘I’m going to give you what you need at this moment so that you can regroup.'”
For her final preparations, Knott traveled to Nagasaki, Japan, where she trained at the Transcosmos Track and Field Stadium in Isahaya City. Accompanied by Griffin and Buzzichelli, she acclimated to the summer heat and fine-tuned her race strategy.
On August 2, 2021, Knott made her Olympic debut at the National Stadium in Tokyo, competing in the women’s 200m. Running in Heat 7, she clocked 23.80 seconds to finish fifth—outside the qualifying positions for the semifinals. Though she did not advance, the experience was invaluable.
“It was definitely a learning experience. I’m grateful to have been there and represent the Philippines,” Knott said afterward. “More work has to be done.”
The Indoor Record Breaker: 60m Dominance
In early 2021, Knott turned her attention to indoor competition and the 60m dash—a discipline that would reveal yet another dimension of her talent. At the American Track League II in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on January 31, 2021, she clocked 7.26 seconds, smashing the Philippine indoor record previously held by de Vega at 7.37 seconds.
The performance qualified her for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in March 2022—her first appearance at a global championship. Though she finished 38th overall with a season-best 7.39 seconds in the heats, the experience added to her growing résumé on the world stage.
Navigating Setbacks: Injuries and Recovery
The path of any elite athlete includes obstacles, and Knott has faced her share. Ahead of the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, she was forced to withdraw due to a torn plantar fasciitis in her left foot. The injury, first detected in January 2022, worsened during training.
“We don’t want to rush things,” Knott said at the time. “The goal is to win in the Asian Games.” Unable to defend her 200m title, she turned her focus to rehabilitation with an eye toward the bigger picture—the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and beyond.
Return to Form: 2023 and Beyond
Knott made her return to competition at the 2023 Philippine Athletics Championships, demonstrating that her speed remained intact despite the layoff. At the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, she competed in both sprints, finishing fourth in the 200m with a time of 23.79 seconds. Though she was surpassed by Singapore’s Shanti Pereira—who broke Knott’s Games record with a blistering 22.69—her return to the starting blocks signaled that the Philippines’ sprint queen was far from finished.
At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Knott once again reached the 200m final—her second top-eight finish at the continental championship. She finished sixth with a time of 23.79 seconds as Pereira claimed gold in 23.03.
2025: Setting New Indoor Standards
Knott’s 2025 indoor season showcased her continued evolution and dominance in shorter distances. At the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational in January, she set a new Philippine indoor record of 23.46 seconds in the 200m (short track). The following month, at the Arkansas Qualifiers in Fayetteville, she lowered that mark again to 23.39 seconds—a testament to her sustained form and technical refinement.
In March 2025, she represented the Philippines at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, competing in the women’s 60m as the nation’s sole representative. Though she finished sixth in her heat with 7.42 seconds and did not advance to the semifinals, the experience added to her championship pedigree.
Later that year, at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, Knott reached the 200m final once more, finishing sixth with a time of 23.82 seconds. While the medals continue to elude her at the Asian level—where competition has intensified in recent years—her consistency in reaching finals underscores her standing as one of the region’s elite sprinters.
Personal Bests and National Records
As of late 2025, Knott holds the following Philippine national records:
- 60m (indoor): 7.26 seconds (January 31, 2021, Fayetteville, Arkansas)
- 100m: 11.27 seconds (August 29, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa)
- 200m: 23.01 seconds (December 7, 2019, New Clark City, Philippines)
- 200m (indoor, short track): 23.39 seconds (February 21, 2025, Fayetteville, Arkansas)
- 4x100m relay: 43.48 seconds (May 12, 2018, Coral Gables, Florida)
Her 200m outdoor record of 23.01 seconds also stands as the Southeast Asian Games record.
Career Highlights
- 2019 SEA Games (New Clark City): Gold – 200m (23.01, NR/GR); Gold – 4x100m mixed relay; Silver – 100m (11.55); Silver – 4x100m relay
- 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Competed in 200m (23.80, Heat 7)
- 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta): 6th place – 200m (23.51)
- 2023 Asian Games (Hangzhou): 6th place – 200m (23.79)
- 2025 Asian Athletics Championships (Gumi): 6th place – 200m (23.82)
- World Athletics Indoor Championships: Competed in 2022 (Belgrade) and 2025 (Nanjing)
- Six-time Philippine National Champion
Collegiate Honors
- 2016 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Champion – 100m and 200m
- 2016 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year (Outdoor)
- 2018 ACC Champion – 4x100m relay (University of Miami)
- 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Track & Field All-Academic Team
Coaching and Training
Throughout her international career, Knott has worked closely with coach Rohsaan Griffin, a former accomplished 200m sprinter who has guided her technical development since she joined the Philippine national team. Griffin, based in the United States, helped Knott refine her block starts, improve her reaction times to under 0.150 seconds, and develop her curve-running efficiency—a critical skill for the 200m.
Strength and conditioning coach Carlo Buzzichelli has also been instrumental in her preparation, working alongside Griffin to maintain a hybrid program that balances skills training with physical conditioning. The trio has navigated challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to injuries, adapting their methods while keeping Knott competitive at the highest levels.
Beyond the Track
Off the track, Knott has embraced her role as a bridge between Filipino diaspora athletes and the national team. Her decision to immerse herself in Philippine culture—spending months at a time in the country, training alongside local teammates, and connecting with fans—set a template that other Filipino-American athletes have followed.
With a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Miami, Knott brings an artistic sensibility to her athletic pursuits. Outside of training, her hobbies include swimming and skating—activities that have likely contributed to her all-around athleticism.
Social Media
Fans can follow Kristina Knott on Instagram at @knottyourcheese, where she shares updates on her training, competitions, and life between races.
Legacy and Looking Ahead
At 29 years old, Kristina Knott has already established herself as one of the most accomplished female sprinters in Philippine history. She has broken records once thought untouchable, competed at the Olympic Games, and consistently represented her country at the highest levels of international athletics.
Her national records in the 60m, 100m, and 200m remain the standards for Filipino sprinters to chase. More importantly, she has helped elevate the profile of Philippine track and field and inspired a new generation of athletes—both in the Philippines and among the Filipino diaspora—to dream of representing their country on the world stage.
As she continues to compete and chase faster times, Knott’s story remains one of cultural connection, perseverance through adversity, and the pursuit of excellence. From her basketball-playing youth in Orlando to the record books of Southeast Asian sprinting, KK’s journey is far from over.
Current World Athletics Rankings (January 2025): #159 in Women’s 200m, #405 in Women’s 100m
