PARIS – Hurdlers Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang-Tolentino see action in their respective heats in their Olympic debut on Sunday at the Stade de France.

The 25-year-old Hoffman, a former Duke standout, is entered in the women’s 400-m hurdles, while Cabang-Tolentino in the men’s 110-meter.

Cabang-Tolentino will run at 11:50 a.m. (5:50 p.m. Philippine time), followed by Hoffman at 12:35 p.m. (6:35 p.m. Philippine time).

Miguel White was the last Filipino trackster to medal in the Olympics, bagging a bronze in the men’s 400 meter hurdles during the 1936 Berlin Games.

World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena jumpstarted Philippine athletics’ campaign on Saturday afternoon.

With three entries, the Philippines matched its number of athletics participants in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, where hurdler Eric Cray, marathoner Mary Joy Tabal and long jumper Marestella Torres competed.

The country only had two in the coronavirus-stalled Tokyo Olympics in 2021 with Obiena making his debut in pole vault and Kristine Knott vying in the 200-meter race.

Hoffman on Friday night posted a fun video with Tolentino to mark their first training at the Olympic Stadium.

Hoffman made the qualification cutoff by securing the 39th spot in the women’s 400m hurdles rankings. She currently holds the national record for this event with a time of 55.72 seconds.

Making it to the semifinals on Tuesday (early Wednesday morning, Philippine time) is Hoffman’s initial goal.

The 22-year-old Tolentino, on the other hand, achieved his qualification by ranking 30th among the qualifiers for the men’s 110m hurdles. He is currently the national record holder in this event at 13.37 seconds.

If things go Tolentino’s way, the semis is on Wednesday (early Thursday morning, Philippine time).

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