KRISTEL MACROHON topped Group B of the women’s 71-kg division but missed a podium finish in the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships on Tuesday at the Gran Carpa Americas Coferias in Bogota, Colombia.
Macrohon, 26, finished 10th overall—snatch 104 kgs, clean and jerk 109 kgs and 232 kgs total—a far cry from gold medalist Loredana Toma of Romania who had a total lift of 256 kgs—119 kgs snatch and 137 kgs clean and jerk— in Group A.
China’s Zeng Tiantian grabbed silver—snatch 113 kgs, 140 kgs clean and jerk and 253 kgs total lift, while Ecuador’s Angie Palacios Dajomes settled for bronze—116 kgs snatch, 136 kgs clean and jerk and 252 kgs total lift.
Despite missing a medal, Macrohon’s modest performance earned her precious points to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Bogota worlds is the first of six qualifiers for Paris.
“What’s important is we secured the Olympic points despite missing a medal,” Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. “Macrohon is doing well.”
Asian champion Vanessa Sarno injured her hand but still finished seventh in Group B—snatch 99 kgs, 125 kgs clean and jerk and 124 kgs total lift. She landed outside the top 10 overall in the same women’s 71 kgs category.
Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo added the world championships crown in women’s 55 kgs class to her Tokyo Olympics gold medal.