Tolentino, Hoffman miss outright semis berth, relegated to repechage

Filipino hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman were unable to book an outright semifinals ticket and were relegated to repechage following the result of their respective events in the 2024 Paris Olympics athletics competitions at the Stade De Paris on Sunday, August 4.

Cabang Tolentino marked his Summer Games debut after clocking in a time of 13.66 seconds, placing him sixth in the Heat 1 of the men’s 110 meters hurdles. 

Overall, he finished No. 32 among 39 hurdlers with Grant Holloway of the United States topping the race with his time of 13.01 seconds, showing readiness for his redemption campaign after nabbing silver in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Hoffman, a first-time Olympian as well, was also dropped in the repechage round of the women’s 400 meters hurdles after finishing 37th overall out of 40 participants with a time of 57.84 seconds, two seconds slower than the national record of 55.72 seconds she set in April.

Only the top three racers in each five heats and the next three fastest advanced to the semifinals, with Tokyo Games bronze medalist Femke Bol of the Netherlands registering 53.38 seconds to lead the pack.

Hoffman returns to action on Monday, August 5, for the repechage, while Tolentino will get one last shot at the semifinals which will be held on Tuesday, August 6.