T&T's Track & Field.

By Kwame Laurence.
7-Jul-2004 - Marc Burns has joined the professional ranks.
The 21-year-old Trinidad and Tobago sprinter recently signed a three-year contract with sports goods manufacturers, adidas.
But though he will now earn a living from track and field, Burns has opted to complete his tertiary education. The Auburn University (Ala-bama) student is pursuing a degree in health and human performance.
As a professional athlete, though, Burns can no longer represent his school on the American collegiate circuit. Though hampered by injury, his two-year collegiate career was a successful one.
At the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Burns finished fourth in the men's 100 metres final. And then, at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships, he bagged bronze in the 60m dash.
At the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships, last month, Burns scorched the track in a wind-assisted 9.99 seconds, in a qualifying heat. Another trip to the rostrum seemed inevitable. However, back spasms kept him out of the championship race.
Burns suffered a recurrence of his back injury at the Sagicor National Open Senior Track and Field Championships, but still managed to finish third in the century final, in 10.25 seconds.
Ato Boldon and Darrel Brown were also injured at the National Champion-ships. However, all three sprinters are expected to be fit enough to compete in Europe later this month.
When he does face the starter, Burns will be targetting the 10.21 seconds 100m Olympic "A" qualifying standard.
Boldon's goal, in Europe, is the 200m Olympic "A" standard, 20.59 seconds. The qualification deadline is July 21.
Both Burns and Brown are currently in London, while Boldon is at his Los Angeles training base.
In addition to their strong friendship, Brown and Burns now share an agent as well.
Both sprinters are represented by former British track star John Regis, managing director of Stellar Athletics.
Nicconnor Alex-ander and Ato Modibo are also represented by Stellar Athletics.
Alexander clocked 10.19 seconds to finish second in the National Senior Championship 100m final. He is currently campaigning on the European circuit, and is expected to team up with Burns, Boldon and Brown for the men's 4x100m relay, at the August 13-29 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
Modibo grabbed gold in the men's 400m event, at the National Senior Championships. The former Clemson University standout is an Olympic "B" qualifier in the one-lap event.

T&T Newsday Reports.
31-May-2004 - A dropped baton, during the final hand-over between Jacey Harper and Darrel Brown, cost Trinidad and Tobago men’s 4x100-metre relay team victory at the 2004 Whitsuntide Games Area Permit Meet in St George’s, Grenada on Saturday night. Instead, the Netherlands Antilles took gold with a Games record of 39.39 seconds, followed by St Kitts/Nevis (with men’s 100m world champion Kim Collins in their quartet) 39.84 and hosts Grenada 40.95. The Trinidad and Tobago foursome comprised Niconnor Alexander, quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon, Harper and Brown.
But the Trinidadians got some consolation as the women’s 4x100m and men’s 4x400m relay squads were not to be outdone, both clinching gold medals with meet record times. The TT women (Keenan Gibson, Wanda Hutson, Ayanna Hutchinson and Kelli-Ann Baptiste) posted a Games record 44.63 seconds in taking the 4x100m gold, while the 4x400m men featuring Renny Quow, Julieon Raeburn, Simon Pierre and Ato Modibo, clocked three minutes 7.32 seconds, with Grenada second and St Vincent third. Grenadian Alleyne Francique, the world indoor champion, won the men’s 400m convincingly on his home turf. He clocked 44.59 seconds in beating former world champion Avard Moncur of the Bahamas (46.26 seconds) for a new Games record for the decades-old meet. The crowd of thousands was on their feet as their hero entered the home straight, and it erupted as the 27-year-old crossed the line ahead of the Bahamian.
Less heralded, but perhaps more impressive on the day, was Randy Lewis. Another hometown boy, Randy won the men’s triple jump with the fifth-best legal effort in the world this year. Hopping, stepping and jumping his way to 17.34m, Randy obliterated his former national record, as well as the games and stadium records. Far behind was Antiguan teenager Ayata Joseph with a 15.89m best performance. In the women’s 100m final, Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson (11.01 seconds) clocked the fastest 100m dash ever at the Grenada National Stadium or at the Whitsuntide Games. She followed that up with the fastest 200m ever at the Games, 22.70, though she was short of Cydonie Mothersill’s stadium-best mark.

By Kwame Williams.
18-Nov-2003 - Former Olympians Neil De Silva and Patrick “Bullet” Delice, together with ex-members of the Phoenix athletics club have joined forces to construct what they believe will become the leading club in local track and field in the coming years —Silver Bullet Athletics Association.
Silver Bullet, they say, will offer a more scientific approach to local athletics, as well as provide athletes with a training regimen more suited to their personal needs.
Using graphs and charts, club officials intend to study the eating, exercise and training habits of the athletes, which is aimed at getting the maximum output from each individual.
De Silva and Delice are the club’s head coaches, while Dr Billy Mohess will serve as the physiotherapist.
Motivational work will be done psychologist Valentine Smith, former Olympic powerlifter Brandon Bailey will oversee the strength training and Leslie Nunes has been selected to handle the water therapy sessions.
This revolutionary method of training was designed to both strengthen muscles and help athletes recuperate from injury, while maintaining their fitness level.
The club currently has roughly 50 athletes, including the likes of World Junior 100m champion and record holder Darrel Brown, national junior 100m silver medallist Marcus Duncan, 2003 national primary schools Victrix Ludorum Kafi Brathwaite and national junior 800m champion Shade St Louis, just to name a few.
Bason Smith (president), Winston Brown (vice-president), Betty-Ann Daniel (secretary), Ephraim Serrette (local technical advisor), Wayne Lewis (foreign technical advisor), David Prime (records manager), Ernest Benskin (public relations officer) and Wayne Brathwaite (public relations officer) will head the new entity, which hopes to change the face of local athletics starting in 2004.
The organisation was officially founded on November 5 and is now waiting on the green light from the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA), whose president Ken Doldron has already given the club his blessings, as it has met all the criteria necessary to receive approval.

By Brij Parasnath.
26-Aug-2003 - Darrel Brown, Trinidad and Tobago’s new junior world record holder, produced a remarkable burst of speed and awesome finishing power yesterday to grab the silver medal in the men’s 100 metres at the 9th IAAF World Champion-ships at the Stade de France, Paris. It was an historic and memorable performance by the teenager who has firmly established himself as the world’s second best senior 100-metre sprinter for the year. And at 18 years and 318 days, Brown becomes the youngest athlete to ever win an individual medal at the World Senior Outdoor Championships. He clocked 10.08 secs and was pipped by one-hundredth of a second by Kittitian Common-wealth champion Kim Collins who made it a Caribbean one-two by clocking 10.07. It was a blanket finish with Englishmen Darren Campbell, the new bronze-medallist, and Dwain Chambers (fourth) also timed at 10.08 secs. No other 100-metre final at the World Championships was as close as yesterday’s and it took the photo-finish camera to separate the medallists.
Running in lane four and with the second slowest start of the eight finalists, Brown recovered admirably and give it his all to catch the fast advancing pack at about the 85-metre mark. He held his nerve and momentum in the final three strides but was narrowly edged out by Collins for the coveted gold medal as they leaned over the finishing line. The Trinidadian “Golden Boy” proved his world-class sprinting ability and yesterday he finally announced to the world that he is now ready for another slice of history at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He whipped the reigning European champion Chambers (10.08) who placed fourth and the current American world 100-metre record holder Tim Montgomery who finished fifth with a 10.11 secs timing and the reigning American champion Bernard Williams (10.13) who occupied sixth spot. Three hours earlier he raced to second spot behind European champion Chambers (10.06) in the second semi-final in 10.11 for a place in the final.
He became the youngest athlete to qualify for the showpiece event of these biennial competition. Brown also eliminated two of the most dominant world-rated sprinters of the 90s. Former world record holder and reigning Olympic champion Maurice Greene (10.30) placed seventh in his semi-final race while compatriot Ato Boldon clocked 10.22 and was sixth. Greene was dethroned and with Boldon, became spectators in the final. Brown was elated and proud with his victory but has his eyes set at astride the medal podium once again in the 4x100 metres relay.
“I am happy and proud. I wanted to be in the final and I achieved my goal,” he said after the race. On Sunday, he clocked 10.01, which erased Chambers’ previous world junior record of 10.06 secs set in 1997 at the European Junior Championships. His parents, Winston Brown (father) and Tobago-born Marilyn Jack Brown (mother), were in the stands at the impressive 71,000-seater Stade de France (55,000 for athletics) sharing the history-making events of their immensely-talented son who once again brought glory to Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean peoples.

100 Metres Final Results.
1. Kim Collins (SKN)- 10.07 secs; 2. DARREL BROWN (TT)- 10.08; 2. Darren Campbell (GB)- 10.08; 3. Dwain Chambers (GB)- 10.08; 4. Tim Montgomery (USA)- 10.11; 5. Bernard Williams (USA)- 10.13; 6. Deji Aliu (NGR)- 10.21; 7. Uchenna Emodulu (NGR)- 10.22.

By Kwame Laurence.
25-Aug-2003 - Trinidad and Tobago’s Darrel Brown produced an absolute scorcher here at the World Track and Field Championships in Paris, France yesterday. The 18-year-old sprinter smashed the world junior record with an incredible 10.01 seconds run in the quarter-final round of the men’s 100 metres dash.
Though he shut down some 20 metres from home, Brown sliced a healthy five-hundredths of a second off the 10.06 mark, set by Great Britain’s Dwain Chambers six years ago. The T&T phenom led all qualifiers into today’s semis.
A typically cool Brown told the Daily Express that his only goal, going into the race, was advancing to the next round. “I went out to qualify, but ended up breaking the record too.”
The World Junior Championship 100m gold medallist has moved to number two on the all-time T&T list, behind 1997 200m world champion Ato Boldon (9.86) and ahead of 1976 Olympic 100m gold medallist Hasely Crawford (10.06).
However, Brown said he had no immediate plans to celebrate the achievement. His focus, instead, is on this evening’s second semi-final. Boldon, Chambers, world and Olympic champion Maurice Greene, Deji Aliu and Darren Campbell are among the sprinters the Nike-sponsored athlete will line up against.
Atl Boldon has also regained the racing form that had deserted him for the past couple seasons. The Trinidad and Tobago track star clocked 10.09 seconds here in Paris, France last night, to cruise into the World Track and Field Championship men’s 100 metres semis.

“It’s hot!”
Brown had clocked an easy 10.10 seconds to finish second, behind world record holder Tim Montgomery (10.07), in the fifth first round heat.
“I didn’t know I was going that fast. My coach (Henry Rolle) told me to run the first 60 and just shut it down. I’m surprised I ran that fast!”
Less than three hours later, in still conditions at the Stade de France, Brown went even faster, improving considerably on his 10.08 personal best.
Going into the 2003 season, the Alabama-based sprinter had set himself two major goals. The first one, breaking the world junior record, has been accomplished. Goal number two is earning a lane in the World Championship 100m final. Based on yesterday’s sizzling run, Brown is now in line for a precious metal bonus.
“I have to pass the semis first. I don’t know if I can get a medal. I’m just running to see how far I can go.” Boldon heaped praises on Brown, following the world record run.
“A boy became a man today, at about 50 metres. Had he run all the way through, he would probably have clocked 9.96, but he should be able to duplicate.”
The quadruple Olympic medallist is hoping that both he and Brown qualify for this evening’s championship race. “That would be a dream come true. People have been telling me I should feel responsible for the renaissance in T&T sprinting. I don’t,” Boldon ended. “I’m just happy.”

Written By: Kwame Lawerence.
17-Aug-2003 - George Bovell completed the best-ever individual Pan Am Games showing by a Trinidad and Tobago representative, with a record-breaking swim in the men’s 200 metres individual medley, at the Juan Pablo Duarte Aquatic Centre here in the Dominican Republic, last night.
The 20-year-old swimmer grabbed gold in one minute, 59.49 seconds, a new Games and national record, as well as the fastest time ever by a swimmer from the Commonwealth, beating the 1:59.66 produced by Australian great Ian Thorpe in his silver swim, at last month’s World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
Bovell’s effort earned him medal number four, in the space of just six days, drawing him level with cyclist Roger Gibbon and sprinter Michael Agostini. The three are T&T’s most prolific individual Pan Am Games medallists. Two of Agostini’s medals, however, were earned in Chicago, in 1959, as a member of a British West Indies team.
Gibbon captured two medals in 1963 and another couple medals four years later, while Agostini claimed two in both ’55 and ’59. Bovell, though, stands alone, the Auburn University student bagging all four pieces of Pan Am precious metal-two gold medals and two silver-right here in Santo Domingo.
Bovell seized control of the race, very early, completing the 50-metre butterfly leg in 26.15 seconds. By the halfway stage, the only race was for second spot. Well in front after the backstroke leg, and still in command after swimming the breaststroke, Bovell went full throttle, outclassing his rivals in the freestyle to capture top honours. Brazil’s Thiago Pereira (2:02.31) and American Eric Donnelly (2:02.52) claimed the minor medals.
Bovell’s victory assured T&T of its best-ever Pan Am Games showing-two gold medals, three silver and one bronze. And with boxer Kertson Manswell taking on Cuba’s Odlanier Solis in the heavyweight division championship contest, late yesterday evening, either a gold or a silver was added to the haul. T&T’s previous best was the seven-medal haul in Winnipeg, Canada in 1967 (two gold, two silver, three bronze).
Bovell, fifth in the 200m IM at last month’s World Championships, had qualified for last night’s final with a comfortable victory in heat two. He clocked 2:03.88, the fastest qualifying time. Bovell’s 17-year-old brother, Nicholas, swimming in the same heat, was fourth in 2:07.74, advancing to the “B” final as the 11th fastest in the qualifying round. He finished third in the “B” race, in 2:06.42.
After press time, last night, Sharntelle McLean competed in the women’s 50m freestyle “A” final, while Linda McEachrane was among the swimmers in the “B” final. McLean clocked 26.92 seconds to qualify eighth, while McEachrane (27.33) was 12th fastest in the heats. Catherine Lee Ha returned a time of 27.67 seconds. However, she was not part of the official competition.
John Littlepage was also in action last night, in the men’s 1,500m freestyle.
Late on Friday, Ayeisha Collymore, Shannon Duval, McLean and McEachrane combined for sixth spot in the women’s 4x100m medley relay. The T&T quartet clocked four minutes, 31.47 seconds.
But the highpoint for T&T, on Friday night, was undoubtedly the silver medal earned by Bovell (George) in the men’s 100m backstroke.
After the race, the 200m freestyle champion told the Sunday Express he was very satisfied with his 55.81 seconds national record swim. He said he was also proud to become the first T&T representative to win more than two individual medals at the same Pan Am Games.
“It’s an accomplishment for me. In a sport like swimming, people don’t consider us to be a threat, or anything great. In track and field, yes, but at international swim meets, people look down on small countries like Trinidad and Tobago. I’m just trying to show them we can be a powerhouse,” Bovell ended. “We can be a force to be reckoned with.”

TnT Express Reports.
10-Aug-2003 - Trinidad and Tobago earned medal number two at the 14th Pan Am Games, here in the Dominican Republic last night. Nicconnor Alexander, Marc Burns, Ato Boldon and Darrel Brown completed the men’s 4x100 metres final in a national record time of 38.53 seconds to capture bronze, on the final night of track and field action, at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium.
The women’s 4x100m quartet of Keenan Gibson, Fana Ashby and juniors Wanda Hutson and Kelly-Ann Baptiste finished just outside the medals. However, the fourth-placed team had the satisfaction of erasing a 19-year-old national record from the books. Team T&T clocked 43.97 seconds, 26 hundredths of a second faster than the old mark.
The United Sates (43.06), Cuba (43.40) and Jamaica (43.71) earned the medals on offer.
Jacey Harper, Sherridan Kirk, Jamil James and Damion Barry returned a time of three minutes, 05.28 seconds for fourth spot in the men’s 4x400m relay. Jamaica (3:01.81), the US (3:01.87) and the Dominican Republic (3:02.02) finished first, second and third, respectively.
The men’s sprint relay quartet produced a more fluent performance that in the semi-final round. However, Pan Am Games 100m champion Mickey Grimes, running the lead-off leg, had laid the foundation for an American triumph, and by the time Brown received the baton from Boldon, both the US and Brazil were well ahead of the field.
Brown closed on the leaders. The gap, though, was too large.Olan Coleman anchored the US to victory in 38.27 seconds, while Brazil seized silver in 38.44.
“The last 40 I was closing still,” Brown told the Sunday Express, “but the distance to the finish was too short.”
Alexander told the Sunday Express he is very satisfied with the bronze medal run. “A national record is always accepted.”

Burns concurred.
“We came in here planning to break the national record and we did, so there’s no need to be sad and down. We just have to regroup and come again for Worlds.”
Team leader Boldon said that shaving five-hundredths of a second off the national mark is due cause for celebration.
“No mixed feelings. I would have loved to win, but 38.2 is some serious running.”
Yesterday’s final was Boldon’s second outing since his 10.38 run in Rome, last month.
“I felt a lot better than in the semi-final.”
In badminton, Darron Charles, Kerwyn Pantin and Anil Seepaul were all first round casualties in the men’s singles. Brazil’s Ricardo Trevelin stopped Charles 15-5, 15-6, Mitchel Wongsodikromo of Suriname got the better of Keryn Pantin 15-4, 15-10 and Jamaica’s Charles Pyne defeated Seepaul 15-11, 15-4.
However, Seepaul and Zeudi Mack dismissed Guatemalans Alejandro Lopez and Annel Micheo 15-3, 15-8 to book a second round berth in the mixed doubles. At press time, the T&T pair were waiting to play Brazil’s Lucas Araujo and Patricia Oelke. Glendon Thomas and Nadine Julien put up a strong challenge against Barbadians Andre Padmore and Mariama Eastmond, but were eventually beaten 17-14, 11-15, 15-7.
T&T’s three entrants bowed out in the opening round of the women’s singles. Mack went under 5-11, 1-11 to Samantha Jinadasa of the United States. Stephanie Mitchell lost 1-11, 1-11 to another American, Eva Lee. And Julien suffered a 2-11, 1-11 defeat at the hands of Jamaica’s Nigella Saunders.
In the men’s doubles event, Jamaicans Emelio Mendez and John Muirhead got the better of the T&T combination of Thomas and Charles 15-12, 17-14.
Seepaul and Pantin face Guatemala’s Alejandro Yang and Erick Anguiano in a men’s doubles fixture, today. In the women’s doubles, Julien and Mitchell do battle with Americans Mesinee Mangkalakiri and Jamie Subandhi. A serious left knee injury, sustained by Sabrina Cassie, forced the formidable team of Cassie and Mack to withdraw from the women’s doubles event.
Following an MRI scan, yesterday, chef-de-mission Brian Lewis told the Sunday Express that the T&T player will require surgery.
And at press time, boxer Kertson Manswell was at the Carlos Teo Cruz Colliseum, waiting to square off against Colombian Tomas Antonio Orozco, in a heavyweight division first round contest.

By: Kwame Williams.
7-Jul-2003 - Julieon Raeburn picked up Trinidad and Tobago’s eighth medal of the CAC Senior Track and Field Championship when he finished second in the Men’s 200m dash last night at the National Stadium in St George’s, Grenada.
On Saturday, the Texas Tech athlete posted the fifth fastest qualifying time (20.78) in the semifinals, placing second behind Men’s 100m champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis. Collins did not contest the final.
By the time the runners hit the 100m mark, himself and countryman Jacey Harper were in prime positions to medal.
Dominic Demeritte of the Bahamas had already assumed command of the race, leaving Raeburn and Jamaican Christopher Williams to battle for the silver.
He edged the Jamaican at the line to take second place in a new personal best time 20.57 seconds. Harper finished fourth (20.80).
Cydonie Mothersil of the Bahamas, who defeated former national 200m champion Fana Ashby at the National Senior Track and Field Championship last month, won the Women’s 200m title (22.45).
National women’s shot putt record holder, Cleopatra Borrel, also had to settle for second place in her event.
The 2002 Witco Sportswoman of the Year’s 17.79m throw was outdone only by the exceptional Misleidis Gonzales of Cuba, whose attempt was measured at 18.09m.
Long Jumper Cleavon Dillon, finished seventh in the Men’s long jump final with a 7.35m leap. The men’s 4x400 metres team added a ninth medal to the T&T bag when it copped bronze. The team placed behind the Bahamas who won the event in 3:02.56 while Jamaica finished in 3:04.8.
The T&T combination of Damien Barry, Raeburn, Simeon Bovell and Sheridan Kirk, was timed in 3:04.48. On Saturday, the quartet of Darrel Brown, Nicconnor Alexander, Marc Burns and Jacey Harper did what was expected of them in not only leading Trinidad and Tobago to Men’s 4x100m relay gold, but setting a new CAC Senior Track and Field Championship meet record at the National Stadium in Grenada on Saturday night.
The four earned their spot in the final after winning and posting the second fastest time in the qualifying heats (39.70), where Clevon Dillon ran the first leg.
Alexander, got the locals off to an excellent start and was first to exchange the baton, passing it on to Marc Burns, the second leg.
The Pan Am junior gold medallist further extended the locals’ lead and by the time he got the stick to national double sprint champion, Jacey Harper, T&T were on course for the victory. However, some shaky passing between himself and Brown, allowed Jamaica to take the lead.
It took a sterling effort from the 18-year-old to regain the lead and still cross the line metres ahead of his Jamaican counterpart, much to the delight of the Grenadian crowd who had warmed up to the Nike-sponsored athlete over the two days.
The local women were not as fortunate, finishing fourth behind Olympic champions, Bahamas (1st), Jamaica (2nd) and Cuba (3rd).
The Bahamians were the pre-race favourites, boasting names like Debbie Ferguson, Shandria Brown, Tamicka Clarke and Christine Amertil in their line-up.
They showed why they are so highly regarded in women’s sprinting, defending their title and setting a new meet record in the process.

By Kwame Laurence.
25-May-2003 - Trinidad and Tobago’s Darrel Brown sent out a stern warning to the world’s elite sprinters when he finished second to Kittitian Kim Collins in the Prefontaine Classic men’s 100 metres dash in Eugene, Oregon yesterday.
In his first major test as a professional, the 18-year-old phenom passed with flying colours, bolting to the finish line in a personal best 10.08 seconds, one-hundredth of a second faster than his winning time at last year’s World Junior Track and Field Championships in Jamaica.
Brown’s impressive clocking was just two-hundredths of a second outside the 10.06 world junior record, established by Great Britain’s Dwain Chambers in 1997. The other T&T sprinter in the Prefontaine 100, Ato Boldon, did not finish, his injured right quadriceps muscle forcing him to abort the race.
Collins returned a time of 10.00 seconds, equalling the meet record set by Coby Miller three years ago.
Miller was among the big-name sprinters left in Brown’s wake, yesterday. The American was fifth in 10.19. Another US sprinter, Bernard Williams (10.10), finished third, while Chambers (10.17) copped fourth spot. Americans Jon Drummond (10.23) and Shawn Crawford (10.24) were sixth and seventh, respectively.
Brown’s coach, Henry Rolle, told the Express he is not surprised by his young charge’s clocking.
“I was expecting that kind of time at Carifta, but injury put a damper on things. My main concern was getting him healthy. Based on practice, we knew he could run real fast,” the coach continued. “Darrel came here confident. Some of the guys tried to get his head, but he stayed focused.”
Brown was way out in lane eight, and never saw Collins (lane five) until the last 20 metres of the race.
“The next time I’m sure he won’t be in eight.”
The Alabama-based sprinter’s next outing is likely to be here in Trinidad next month, at the National Senior Track and Field Championships.
“Lots of meet promoters are going to be calling, but he’ll have to pass. The two goals this season are breaking the world junior record and reaching the World Championship final, and we can’t lose sight of that,” Rolle explained.
“Next week, Darrel’s going to register for some classes, and in September he’ll start school at Southern Union Community College.”
Boldon, who was drawn in lane one, told the Express he was disappointed about not finishing the race. “But I have to look at the bigger picture. I’ve done the work and I’m in shape. The injury is directly related to the car injury.
“I got a pretty good start,” he continued, “but about 30 metres out I felt some pain. I felt it would hold up, but today made it clear I’m not ready to run the 100 right now. The leg won’t stand up. The strategy is to run some 200s. The 200 is not as intense at the start.”
The quadruple Olympic medallist said he is very excited about Brown’s 10.08 scorcher.
“I congratulated Darrel and his coach. To run that fast at his age is phenomenal.”

Golden James!

By KWAME LAURENCE.
22-Apr-2003 - Jamaal James celebrated his Carifta Games debut with a golden run on the final day of the regional junior championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, yesterday.
Just 14, the Trinity College student ran a tactically sound race, staying on the inside but never allowing himself to get boxed in.
“That was part of the strategy. That’s what my Phoenix coach Nestor Brown told me to do.”
Going into the home straight, James led the pack. He stayed in front, claiming victory in a personal best one minute, 56.15 seconds. James pointed in the air as he crossed the finish line, signalling gold number six for the host nation.
“I’m very satisfied,” the T&T half-miler told the Express. “I was expecting the gold. I trained very hard for it, and the week before Carifta I did a 700 in 1:38, so I was very confident coming into the meet.”
James said that apart from gold, he went into the race targetting the 1:55.20 Carifta record, established two years ago by his compatriot Kern Harripersad.
“I wanted the record. But that’s okay … I’ll try again next year.”
Jamaicans Kemar Ellis (1:56.92) and Melvin Weller (1:57.27) picked up the minor medals, while T&T’s Shamir Reid finished fourth in 1:57.96. Carlan Arthur reeled in compatriot Simeon Bovell in the dying stages of the boys under-20 800m final to add half-mile bronze to his 1500 gold.
Bovell, bidding for back-to-back Carifta gold, went out aggressively. By the end of the first lap, he had 12 metres to spare on Jamaica’s Mellard Brown. But Brown gradually made up ground on a tiring Bovell, and passed him 70 metres from home. Brown (1:50.49) and Dayian Parker (1:52.08) finished one-two for Jamaica, with Arthur third in a personal best 1:52.22, a hair’s breadth ahead of Bovell (1:52.23).
Pilar McShine snapped up girls under-17 800 metres silver to take the family’s medals tally to three. On day one, Pilar finished second in the girls under-17 1500m, while her elder sister, LokToya, seized girls under-20 discus silver with a personal best 40.10 metres.
Pilar clocked two minutes, 15.49 seconds in yesterday’s two-lap final to split
Jamaicans Jodran Richards (2:14.57) and Nicola Ledgister (2:16.71). Richards completed an impressive middle-distance double, adding the 800 crown to her 1500 title.
Denelle De Verteuil got home in 2:14.04 to bag girls under-20 800m bronze, behind Jamaicans Carlene Robinson (2:07.56) and Kayann Thompson (2:07.94). T&T’s other entrant, Candace Ince, was fourth in 2:15.23. Girls under-20 100m bronze medallist Wanda Hutson fell one place short in her bid for medal number two. She finished fourth in the 200m, in 24.25 seconds, one spot ahead of teammate Kelly-Ann Baptiste (24.31). Tiandra Ponteen grabbed gold for St Kitts/Nevis, in 23.71, beating Jamaica’s Nickeisha Anderson (23.76) and Kerron Stewart (23.93) into second and third, respectively.
In the boys under-20 200m final, world juniors champion Usain Bolt treated the 7,000-odd spectators to a fine display of half-lap sprinting, obliterating the field in 20.43 seconds, a new Games record. Antigua's Daniel Bailey was a distant second, in 21.10, while Adrian Durant of the US Virgin Islands clocked 21.14 to cop third spot.
Bolt, who captured gold in the 200, 400, 4x100 and 4x400 events, received the Austin Sealy Trophy for the meet’s most outstanding athlete. Games records were established in the 200, 400 and 4x100.
Like Reid, Bovell, Ince and Hutson, Desiree John and Danille Prime earned fourth-place finishes on day three.
Prime was just one centimetre short of her PR (personal record), clearing the bar at 1.74 metres in the girls under-20 high jump. T&T’s senior girls triple jump champ Sheron Mark cleared a personal best 1.68m to finish sixth. Peaches Roach grabbed yet another gold for Jamaica, with a meet record 1.86 metres.
John clocked 15.60 seconds in the girls under-17 100m hurdles final. Roach’s compatriot, Natasha Ruddock, topped the field in 14.42.
T&T’s girls under-20 and boys under-20 4x400m relay teams seized silver, in 3:40.08 and 3:12.46, respectively. The girls under-17 mile relay quartet returned a time of 3:49.29 to bag bronze.
“ThunderBolt” produced a 46.60 seconds split in anchoring Jamaica’s senior boys 4x400m relay team to victory, in 3:09.70, completing a clean sweep of the eight relays for the northern Caribbean country.
The dominant Jamaicans return home with 76 medals—39 gold, 23 silver, 14 bronze. T&T finished second with six gold medals, 12 silver and ten bronze for a total of 28, while Grenada copped third spot with five gold medals, three silver and six bronze.

Darrel Brown doubtful for Penn Relays.

22-Apr-2003 - Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad, CMC Trinidad and Tobago’s World Junior 100-metre champion Darrel Brown is doubtful for this weekend‚s Penn Relays after suffering cramps in his Carifta Games gold medal run at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday night.
Brown took no further part in the 32nd Carifta Games after limping out of his fifth consecutive Carifta Games 100-metre victory.
“He will most likely miss the Penn Relays even though he will travel for the meet where a further assessment will be made,” his agent John Regis told CMC Sport yesterday.
Regis, a former world sprint star for Britain, said Brown is a great talent and should not risk serious injury at this stage of his career.
The 18-year-old Brown complained of feeling cramps in his right thigh midway his race but went on to capture gold in a quick 10.20 seconds wind-assisted, defeating the Netherlands Antilles‚ Churandy Martina (10.37) and Jamaican Tesfa Latty (10.40).
“I thought his run was very good, considering he felt it (cramp) at 40 metres, if he can run that fast with discomfort it says a lot,” said Regis, the 1989 world indoor champion over 200 metres. “This kid is the real deal, and he is going to show that to the world,” Regis said.
His withdrawal from the meet also denied fans seeing a much-anticipated 200-metre clash with the outstanding Jamaican Usain Bolt, who won the world junior title over the distance in Kingston last year.
Brown is currently based in the United States and Regis expects him to be ready for the big IAAF Grand Prix Prefontaine Classic in Oregon on May 24.
Brown, one of the most gifted sprinters ever to emerge from the Caribbean, won the 2001 World Youth (Under-18) 100 metres in Hungary in a championship record 10.31 seconds, before winning the 2002 World Junior title in Kingston, in a meet record 10.09 seconds, only 0.03 outside the World Junior 100-metre record.

Darrel Brown sizzles.

By Kwame Laurence.
20-Apr-2003 - Darrel Brown completed the Carifta Games senior boys’ 100 metres hat-trick with a 10.20 seconds sizzler at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night.
With 8,000 screaming fans willing him on to the finish line, the World Junior Championship 100m gold medallist seized control of the race by the 40-metre mark. At 90, Brown shut down, coasting to victory.
But though the winning time was better than his 10.22 run, in the Bahamas last year, he was pushed by an illegal 3.8 metres per second wind last night, and the 10.20 will not be recognised as a Carifta record.
After crossing the finish line, ahead of Churandy Martina (10.37) of the Netherlands Antilles and Jamaican Tesfa Latty (10.40), Brown limped slightly, creating some uncertainty about the much-anticipated Brown/Bolt duel in tomorrow's Boys under-20 200 metres.
Earlier, Carlan Arthur produced a gutsy performance, finishing strong in the boys under-20 1,500 metres event to hand T&T gold.
The 18-year-old middle distance runner caught Bahamian Alex Sawyer on the line to top the field in four minutes, 03.29 seconds, more than two seconds faster than his previous PR (personal record). Sawyer (4:03.32) and St Lucia's Ran Joseph (4:03.81) finished second and third, respectively.
A confident Arthur told the Express that though he grabbed the gold medal from behind, he never doubted the top spot would be his.
"I know my ability. I knew I could give them a few yards and run back on them."
And Trinidad and Tobago's Pilar McShine clocked a personal best 4:38.67, a new national junior record, to seize silver in the girls’ under-17 1,500m. Jamaica's Jodran Richards topped the field in 4:37.72, while Jennifer Chichester of Guyana (4:48.06) was a distant third.
There were silver medals, as well, for quarter-milers Jamil James and Renny Quow; Charisse Bacchus and Wanda Hutson bagged bronze; while Mikel Courtney seems poised for a trip to the rostrum in the boys open heptathlon.
After the four day one events, Courtney is second, on 2,795 points. Jamaican Wilbert Walker (2,944) is leading in the seven-discipline event, while Bahamian Roosevelt Curry (2,769) is third.
The best leap for Bacchus in last night's girls under-20 long jump was a wind-assisted 6.13 metres. Martinique's Elysee Vesanes was first with a 6.28m effort, while Jamaican Kedene Geddes finished second with a wind-aided 6.23m leap.
Hutson was third past the finish line in the girls under-20 100m. Jamaicans Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson finished one-two. With a strong 3.8 metres per second wind at their backs, they clocked 11.41 and 11.44, respectively. Hutson's 11.68 run earned her the bronze. The other T&T sprinter in the race, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, never recovered from an ordinary start, and finished fifth, in 11.77.
Quow clocked a PR, 48.97 seconds, in the boys under-17 one-lap final, to finish behind Jamaica's Joseph Robertson (48.54) and ahead of Barbadian Akeem Forde (49.60).
James, drawn in lane three for the boys under-17 400m final, had a clear view of favourite Usain Bolt of Jamaica, in four. The T&T runner stayed close to the World Juniors 200m champion in the first half of the race, and by the top of the home straight he had earned a slight advantage.
But the amazing "ThunderBolt" slapped in his high gear to surge past James, claiming the gold medal in a Games record 46.35 seconds. James returned a time of 47.34, while Bahamian Andretti Bain got the bronze in 47.39.
After the race, an exultant James grabbed a large T&T flag, setting the scene for The Darrel Brown Show later in the evening.

Darrel Brown signs a four-year contract with Nike.

Darrel Brown turns pro.
By Kwame Laurence.
11-Dec-2002 - Darrel Brown will campaign on the professional circuit next season. The 100 metres world junior champion has signed a four-year contract with Nike. But while Brown has forfeited his NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) eligibility by signing with the sports equipment giants, he will still attend college in the United States. Nike will cover the cost of the 18-year-old sprinter’s tertiary education. He starts classes next month, at Southern Union Community College in Auburn, Alabama.
Great Britain’s double World Championship 200m medallist John Regis is Brown’s agent. Regis, who retired from competitive sprinting in 2000, told the Express, yesterday, that the Trinidad and Tobago athlete only stands to gain from his decision to go pro.
“Since he’s not in the NCAA system, he can focus on being a professional athlete. He can go out and learn his trade. Going through the NCAA system would only have held him back. But he’s a young kid and college is crucial. It’s paramount that his education comes first. An athlete’s life-span can be short, so this way he has the best chance of making it.”
The young sprinter’s father, Winston Brown, is confident the right choice was made.
“It’s the best thing. This way he goes to school still, and doesn’t have to rely on anybody.”
The younger Brown is currently in Alabama, training alongside his compatriot Marc Burns at Auburn University. Both are preparing for the 2003 season under the watchful eyes of Auburn’s head coach Ralph Spry. But the man who will accompany Brown to Trinidad for next year’s Junior Carifta Games, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, is the University’s women’s sprints coach Henry Rolle.
“I’ll be involved in his preparation for meets and the decision-making. We’ll be working closely with the federation (NAAA) and the goals of the federation. The ultimate goal next season” Rolle continued, “is the World Senior Championships in France. Now that Darrel’s a pro, that’s the expectation from Nike.”
The Bahamian coach said that Brown now has an added incentive to break the 10.06 seconds world junior 100m record, currently held by British sprint star Dwain Chambers.
“Darrel will receive a bonus for breaking that record.
“He will be paid quarterly by Nike,” Rolle continued, “and will be paid to compete at meets. He will also receive bonuses for records, medals and top-three finishes on the Grand Prix circuit. Darrel will get a bonus too if he is ranked in the top 10 in the world. There are lots of incentives and bonuses in that contract he signed in October, as well as an educational stipend towards college.”
Regis, who is also the agent for Chambers and Cayman Islands sprinter Cydonie Mothersill, is the main man on the Stellar Athletics Limited management team. Rolle explained that after it was decided that Brown would become a professional sprinter, Stellar had to make a choice between Nike and Ato Boldon’s adidas.
“Stellar chose Nike because of the bonuses.”
Rolle is confident that Brown, whose personal best is 10.09 seconds, will pocket the bonus on offer for bettering the 10.06 effort produced by Chambers in 1997.
“Darrel will break the world junior record. And he can definitely run under ten seconds. How consistent he can do it and if he can do it at the right time is left to be seen. Just how fast he will eventually run, I can’t say. But the sky’s the limit.”
Regis said the 2001 Express Individual of the Year is potentially a 9.8 sprinter.
“I think Darrel Brown has the ability to run inside 9.85 seconds. And if he can time it at major championships, he’s probably going to win. But potential and practice are two different things. Sheer talent, though, he’s got it! Darrel will be a force to reckon with.”

Double delight, Donovan Bailey 'big up' the boys.

TnT Guardian.
18-July-2002 - Astonishing! - Trinidad and Tobago’s Darrel Brown gave a marvellous display of championship sprinting at the National Stadium here in Kingston, Jamaica last night, scorching the new Mondo track in a meet record 10.09 seconds to capture the coveted men’s 100 metres gold medal.
“It feels great,” he told the Express. “I’ve been waiting for this since last year. I came into the race confident, and pulled it off.”
Marc Burns completed a one-two finish for T&T, getting home in a personal best 10.18 seconds, the same time he had recorded to win his semi-final heat. American Willie Hordge (10.36) was third.
From very early in the race, it was clear that just two sprinters would be in the hunt for gold. Running into a 0.6 metres per second headwind, Brown and Burns battled for superiority. But the former switched gears at the halfway stage, surging ahead of his compatriot. Brown maintained that lead, thrusting his arm skywards as he crossed the line.
Brown chopped eight-hundredths of a second off his own national junior record, and three-hundredths of a second off the World Junior (Under-20) Championship mark—set in 1998 by Great Britain’s Christian Malcolm, and equalled two years ago by another Briton, Mark Lewis-Francis.
“Getting the record was one of my main goals, but the main one was winning the race. I’m happy to get both of them.”
Before yesterday’s sizzling run, Brown had the distinction of being both the fastest 15-year-old in history (10.36 seconds) and the quickest-ever 16-year-old (10.24). Now, the T&T sprinter is also the fastest 17-year-old to have walked the earth, replacing Lewis-Francis (10.10) in the record books.
Brown, who had won his semi-final heat in 10.21 seconds, is only the second T&T athlete in the 16-year history of the World Juniors to climb the top rung of the medals rostrum. Ten years ago, Ato Boldon earned the men’s sprint double in Seoul, South Korea.
In his final meet as a junior, Burns added silver to the bronze he had captured in Santiago, Chile in 2000, taking T&T’s all-time medals tally to six—three gold, one silver, two bronze.
“That’s all the body could take,” Burns told the Express. “I give a lot of credit to Darrel.”
Wanda Hutson became only the second T&T female to contest a World Juniors final. The 17-year-old sprinter earned a spot in the women’s 100m championship race, emulating two-time finalist Fana Ashby, the 2000 bronze medallist.
Hutson finished eighth in 11.87 seconds.
“It was tough, but yeah, I’m satisfied! My goal next time is to bring home a medal for T&T.”
In the semi-final round, Hutson had finished third in heat three, in a personal best 11.72, advancing as one of the two “fastest losers”.
Kiza Francis and Tobagonian Kelliann Baptiste exited at the semi-final stage of their respective events. Baptiste, who is just 15, clocked 12.03 seconds, for seventh spot in heat two of the women’s 100m. And in the women’s 400m semis, Francis was eighth in heat two, in 55.63 seconds. After her semi-final race, Baptiste told the Express she is very pleased with her World Juniors debut.
“I’m very young, so it’s good that I made it to the semis. If I continue at the rate I’m going, I’ll be much more experienced in the next two years, so I’ll have a better chance of winning a medal at World Juniors, even the gold medal.”
After watching the race from the VIP stand, Bailey made a point of personally congratulating Darrel Brown and Marc Burns, the gold and silver medallists.
“Congratulations guys, you have just done something awesome.”
Winner of the World Youth Championships in Debrecen last year, Brown powered to the finish line of the men’s 100m final to clock a new Championships record of 10.09. There had been pre-race speculations about a possible World Junior record but, because of the slight headwind or the pressure of the occasion, that didn’t materialise.
“Darrel is still young, explained Bailey. He has time in hands. He’s only 18 and can still break the World Junior record next year. But what he has to understand is that a sprinter’s career can be very long if one learns how to take one step at a time. I had been around for ages before I made my breakthrough at the 1995 World Championships. And a year later I was Olympic champion and world record holder.”
It was clear that Brown and Burns, who will both attend the University of Auburn, Alabama, were paying careful attention to Bailey’s precious advice.
“I think that they will be the future of track and field. At the moment we are witnessing a very powerful breakthrough of sprinters from Great Britain. Dwain Chambers is doing well and I’m sure he’ll keep on running fast. But there is also Mark Lewis-Francis and Christian Malcolm who both emerged from these championships. I admire the way Lewis-Francis is taking it a little step at a time – [he declined the chance to compete in the Sydney Olympics] and this has been paying off. I think Darrel and Marc have the potential to do great things in the future, they just need to avoid burning all their energy at such a young age.”
Bailey is ready to make a comeback in athletics – but has learnt from business that meticulous planning is the key to success.
“For the time being I enjoy being back here in Jamaica. It is good to have time to see my old friends before I head back to Toronto for the next round of business meetings.”

Ato Boldon quits.

TnT Guardian.
17-July-2002 - Trinidad -Champion sprinter Ato Boldon is abruptly ending an injury-plagued season, citing a lack of fitness for his decision not to defend his 100-meter title at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
His father, Guy Boldon, said Tuesday he supported the decision and hoped it would give his son a break that will allow him to come back fighting for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
“Ato is currently running the times he did 10 years ago when he first burst onto the international scene. It isn’t easy to double up as much as he has done over those 10 years and not suffer at some time,” the senior Boldon told The Associated Press.
“I fully support him on this one, and feel with rest he will rebound to be a threat in the 2004 Olympics,” he said.
Boldon’s American coach, John Smith, blamed the sprinter’s lack of prepararation for poor results that led to his decision to end the season. The Commonwealth Games start July 25 in Manchester, Britain.
The 28-year-old sprinter did most of his pre-season base work at home in Trinidad and Tobago, a departure from previous years when he worked out exclusively with teammates in California.
He had said that he wanted to step out of the shadow of US colleague Maurice Green.
But the decision did not work out well, and he undoubtedly will rethink on his preparations for next year as he targets a big return in time for the World Championships and then onto the Olympics.
Boldon recently bought a house in Trinidad.

New T&T Track Star.

25-May-2002 - Sherridan Kirk of Zenith Athletic Club, Tobago ran 1.44.21 for the 800m today at the Kansas City Memorial Day Classic. Twenty-one year old Kirk, who attends Kansas City Kansas Community College in the United States, smashed the six-year-old meet record of 1.54.87.
His time is now the fastest 800m in the world this year, bettering the 1.45.27 by Otukile Lekote of Botswana which previously stood as the best mark for 2002.
Kirk made history in 2000 when he became the first Tobagonian to be selected to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the Olympic Games. However he was not allowed to compete in T&T's 4x400m relay team which crashed out in the preliminary heats. He has been selected to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England this July.
Kirks performance was faster than the 1.45.08 Nils Schumann of Germany ran to win the 800m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The world record of 1.41.11 was set by Kenyan born Dane, Wilson Kipketer of Denmark in 1997.

Brown, Burns steal Hampton show.

By KWAME LAURENCE
05-May-2002 - DARREL Brown stole the show from some of the best sprinters in the world at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night, blazing to the fastest 100 metres time on the opening day of the 28th Hampton International Games.
Brown annihilated the Boys Under-20 field, bolting down the straight in a personal best 10.19 seconds to claim sole ownership of the national junior record. Before last night’s dash, the world youth (under-18) champion was joint-holder, with Ato Boldon, at 10.22.
From the gun, Brown was in charge, separating from the field and setting off on yet another race against the clock. In still conditions, he glided to victory, diving under 10.20 seconds for the first time in his career.
Silver medallist Keith Roberts and third-placed Chevon Simpson were in another race, clocking 10.78 and 10.92, respectively.
In the blue riband men’s 100m dash, Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks triumphed in 10.28 seconds, getting to the line ahead of a fast-finishing Marc Burns, who clocked 10.33.
Trinidad and Tobago’s 19-year-old sprinter gave the 7,000 spectators a treat, beating seasoned US campaigners Coby Miller, who also returned a time of 10.33 seconds, Jon Drummond, fourth in 10.38, and Tim Harden, who finished sixth in 10.68.
Chandra Sturrup was at her early-season best in the women’s 100m. The Bahamian Golden Girl clocked a fast 11.08 seconds to claim gold, from Jamaica’s Tayna Lawrence (11.15) and Americans Inger Miller (11.40) and Gail Devers (11.46).
Dudley Dorival gave a commanding performance in the men’s 110 metres hurdles. Drawn in lane eight, alongside American Duane Ross, the Haitian athlete looked comfortable over the hurdles. Ross stayed in contention, up until the last two barriers, Dorival pulling away to win in 13.62 seconds, well ahead of the other US athlete in the race, Aubrey Herring, who finished second in 13.88. Ross (13.94) earned the bronze medal.
After the race, Dorival, who had captured bronze in 13.25 seconds at last year’s World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, celebrated his triumph with a salute to the crowd, before being interviewed by celebrity commentator Boldon.
American Savante Stringfellow won the men’s long jump. And Danille Prime picked up from where she left off at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia late last month. The Penn Relays High School Girls High Jump Championship of America silver medallist grabbed gold in the women’s high jump, clearing the bar at 1.73 metres, just two centimetres short of her PR (personal record).
Rhonda Watkins seized silver with a 1.65m jump, while her Bishop Anstey High School colleague Charisse Bacchus (1.55m) bagged bronze.
Prime passed at the first two heights, 1.45m and 1.50m. When she did enter the competition, at 1.55m, she had no problems clearing the bar. The St Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain sixth-former also went over on her first attempt, at 1.60m, 1.65m and 1.70m. Already assured of gold, Prime attempted 1.73m, clearing on her second effort. She then tried to establish a new PR of 1.76m, but knocked over the bar three times.
Jamil James was the class of the Boys Under-17 400m field. The Carifta Games bronze medallist made light work of his rivals, completing the one-lap event in a personal best 47.77 seconds. The impressive clocking was more than a second faster than the 48.90 he had produced, in finishing third at the Easter weekend Carifta meet. The Quantum quarter-miler’s time was also well inside the 48.00 World Junior Championship qualifying standard.
Oshun Glasgow (49.46) and Dwayne Herbert (50.34) were well beaten into second and third, respectively. Kelliann Baptiste also produced a sizzler, winning the Girls Under-17 100m event in 11.78 seconds. The Carifta Games bronze medallist was well ahead of her Zenith, Tobago clubmate, Afisa O’Neil, who finished second in 12.07. Burnley’s Jurlene Francis (12.34) was third.
Fittingly, the opening race of the 28th Hampton International Games, the Boys Under-9 100m dash, was won by Hampton’s promising eight-year-old sprinter Hezeciel Romeo.

El Dorado still US relay kings.

28-Apr-2002 - El Dorado Senior Comprehensive School did what was expected when the quartet of Dion Rodriguez, Marc Burns, Kevin Starker and Darrel Brown repeated as the 4 x 100-metre Champions of the Penn Relays event.
The team made their first defence of the prestigious Penn Relays 4 x 100 metres title for Senior High Schools in and outside America, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA.
El Dorado running from lane six after Friday's victory in the qualifying heat, posted 40.15 seconds.
It was a major improvement from the 41.48 seconds they clocked in the heats.
Their efforts broke the previous meet record of 40:43 seconds.
Rodriguez, who missed the Carifta Games because of injury, ran the first leg, followed by Burns, the reigning Carifta Games and Pan American 200 metres champion, Starker and anchorman Brown, the World Under-18 champion over 100 metres.
The defending champion, represented this year by Brown, Burns, Straker, Rodriguez and reserve Keiron Timothy, qualified for the final by running in 41:48 seconds, the fastest time registered in the heats.
Second was Caribbean rivals Vere Technical and Hayes College of Jamaica, some 39 hundredths of a seconds behind for second place with the combination of Mount Tabor/Winston-Salem, High Schools of North Carolina, USA third in 41.06 seconds.
In the heats Mt Tabor had posted the second fastest time (41.62) to secure lane eight in the final.
Burns, Brown and Straker are fresh from winning gold in April at the Carifta Games in the Boys Under-20 4 x 100-metre final along with Shevon Simpson.
Brown also copped the gold in the 100-metre in a new Games record time of 10.22 seconds. (KC).

T&T bags 18 Carifta medals...Burns wins double gold.

By Hamlet Mark.
02-Apr-2002 - Trinidad and Tobago completed the Carifta Games here last night with a bag of 18 medals.Marc Burns, Simeon Bovell, Natasha Dixon and the boy's 4x100 metres team added gold medals, to leave T&T with seven gold, two silver and nine bronze medals overall.
Jamaica ended with 67 medals including 31 gold, 20 silver and 10 bronze to top the performers. T&T was second.
Burns and Bahamian Grafton Ifill had a remarkable contest for the 200 metres sprint gold.
The race was over in 20 seconds, but the decision on who won took an agonising half hour.
In the end, Burns took the gold in 20.8 seconds, but the other Trinidadian in the race Chevron Simpson finished seventh.
That they had to wait so long for the result was a tribute to perhaps Ifill more than Burns - and because of a malfunctioning electronic photo system.
Burns seemed to have the race under control coming off the bend, only to see an explosive burst of speed from Ifill, who moments before was languishing in sixth place.
To the naked eye it was never clear who won.
Earlier, Burns was among the team which included Simpson, Kevin Straker and Darrel Brown who won the 4x100 metres gold.
Jamaica was in full effect in the 400 and 800 metre events, on many occasions taking one-two positions. But Trinidadian Simeon Bovell spoiled the planned Jamaican clean sweep of the 800 and 400 metre events by taking gold in the boys under-20 version. He scored a satisfying victory in 1:51:04.
T&T's Natalie Dixon won the other gold for the twin island republic in the early afternoon by taking the Under 20 girls javelin event.
Her second of six throws at 45.77 clinch the coveted spot.
Dixon fell a full 10 meters behind her first attempt, but then set the new standard with a second that was never matched.
Dixon did 42.93 metres in her fifth throw - but by then the damage was already done.
In taking gold Dixon did a personal best - something that was as satisfying. Before Monday she did 39.63 at the T&T Carifta trials in February.
Charisse Bacchus won the pentathlon event, giving Trinidad and Tobago its fourth gold medal on Sunday night.
Bacchus won with 3,455 points, 60 better than the second-placed Jamaican Petagay Beckford. Third was Astra Curry of the Bahamas.
Bacchus won the challenging event with a string of consistent performances in the 100 metres, shot put, high jump, long jump and 800 metre event. She won the 100 metre event in 14.12 seconds.
The shot put proved Bacchus' weakest event placing fifth out of six, but she shared a joint first in the high jump with compatriot Riverre.
Both jumped 1.67 metres.
She was second to Beckford in the long jump and finished fourth in the 800-metre event.

Carifta Games 2002 team.

Boys Under-20: Darrel Brown, Dion Rodriguez, Marc Burns, Joel Pile, Kellon Francis, Kern Harripersad, Simeon Bovell, Kenneth Goodridge, Kevin Huggins, Solomon John, Alan Mitchell, Chevon Simpson, Kevin Straker, Asim James

Girls Under-20: Wanda Hutson, Josanne Lucas, Kyesha Hills, Charisse Bacchus, Danille Prime, Natalie Dixon, Ayana Riviere, Kerry Barrow, Sheron Mark

Boys Under-17: Marcus Duncan, Jamil James, Akini Pierre, Joel Batson, Casey Kistow, Cory Gibbs, Kenson Bryce

Girls Under-17: Kellian Baptiste, Shade St Louis, Rhonda Watkins, Caleigh Bacchus, Kinia Johnson, Pilar McShine

Officials: George Commissiong (manager), Joyce Thomas (head/throws coach), Heathcliffe Thorne (jumps/hurdles coach), Clayton Walkes (sprints coach), Paul Voisin (middle distance/long distance coach), David Cumberbatch (massage therapist), Lucretia Warner-Burns (chaperone).

Best sporting moment ever in T&T history.

T&T Express.
03-Mar-2002 - HASELY Crawford’s gold medal-winning feat in the 100 metres at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada still remains as the “greatest moment” in Trinidad and Tobago’s sporting history.
Crawford scampering to victory in 10.06 seconds, shown on a huge TV screen, was given top spot in the “Ten Great T&T Sporting Moments”, one of the highlights of Friday night’s WITCO Sports Foundation Awards at the Hilton Trinidad ballroom.
Crawford, a huge sprinter, once described as one of the “greatest of all time”, represented Trinidad and Tobago in four Olympics—Munich in 1972; Montreal 1976; Moscow 1980; and Los Angeles in 1984.
Taking second spot on the “Great Moments” list was Brian Lara for his magnificent 375 Test runs (which destroyed Gary Sobers’ longstanding score of 365 not out) against England in Antigua and his undefeated 501 against Durham in the English County Championship, which established the highest-ever score in first class cricket, both achieved in 1994.
Surprisingly, Ato Boldon’s golden 200-metre victory at the World Track and Field Championships in 1997 in Athens, Greece, was only listed at No.9.
T&T’s two World Boxing Association (WBA) champions, light-heavyweight Leslie “Tiger” Stewart and lightweight Claude Noel, were both ranked in third position.
The top ten were selected by an experienced panel of sports journalists and administrators, chaired by Lystra Lewis and including veteran sports editors Mervyn Wells, Horace Gordon and Eustace Ward, along with Tony Williams, Dave Lamy, Valentino Singh and former T&T football captain Sedley Joseph.
But a member of the selection team said he was surprised the list was announced in order of merit. “I saw it as an ongoing exercise. Not an all-time ranking list as such,” he said.
But Judy Griffith, secretary of the WITCO Sports Foundation Panel, insisted yesterday while “more Great Moments will be named later, Friday night’s top ten was in order of merit and the panel was informed beforehand”.

THE TOP ELEVEN
1. Hasely Crawford—Olympic gold in Montreal 1976
2. Brian Lara—375 and 501 record-breaking scores, 1994
3. Leslie “Tiger” Stewart and Claude Noel—WBA world titles
4. T&T’s 1979 World Netball Championship team
5. Kent Bernard, Lennox Yearwood, Wendell Mottley, Edwin
Roberts—1966 Commonwealth Games 4x400 yards world
record-breaking and gold medal relay team, Kingston, Jamaica
6. Roger Gibbon—bronze medal at World Cycling Championships,
Belgium, 1967
7. Rodney Wilkes—Olympic silver medal in weightlifting, London, 1948.
8. T&T vs USA World Cup qualifier—Hasely Crawford Stadium,
November 19, 1989.
9. Ato Boldon—200-metre gold medal at 1997 World Championships,
Athens, Greece.
10. Mike Agostini—Gold medal at Pan Am Games, Chicago, 1959.
11. George Bovell 111—Won the bronze medal in the 200-IM swimming competition at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Greece. George Bovell also completed the best-ever individual Pan Am Games with a record-breaking swim in the men’s 200 metres individual medley, at the Juan Pablo Duarte Aquatic Centre in the Dominican Republic, August 2003. The 20-year-old swimmer grabbed gold in one minute, 59.49 seconds, a new Games and national record, as well as the fastest time ever by a swimmer from the Commonwealth, beating the 1:59.66 produced by Australian great Ian Thorpe in his silver swim.

Ato Boldon donating US$5,000 to Memphis.

By SEAN NERO
18-Dec-2001- HE COULD NOT WAIT until Christmas Day so four-time Olympic medallist Ato Boldon gave Memphis Pioneers Athletic Club an early yuletide gift. At the organisation's Annual Awards Function held at Caribbean Sound Basin, Maraval on Sunday night Boldon revealed to the gathering that he had decided to donate his share of prize money from the Trinidad and Tobago 4 x 100 metres relay team valued at US$5,000 to the athletic club.
He is expected to receive the prize today from the National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA). The Trinidad and Tobago team comprising Marc Burns, Darrel Brown, Jacey Harper and Boldon captured the bronze medal at IAAF World Championship in Edmonton, Canada, last August and received a total cash award of US$20,000. Speaking to Newsday, Boldon said: "It wasn't something I had planned. I know of their success. I have watched Ed Skinner working hard. It is the best feeling to give back, so I did. The decision was made at the function after listening to the contributions being made by both the adults and kids.

Ato Praised

18-Dec-2001 - Coach Ed Skinner is as enthusiastic as any 18-year-old. "This is no idle contribution. I want to see more of them make it to the World Junior Championships, the CARIFTA Games and other track and field events taking place next year. I hope this would be an incentive to them."
The Olympic sprinter stated that everyone could pay lip service but "there comes a time when you have to put your money where your mouth is". Ed Skinner, head coach for Memphis, admitted he was taken by "complete surprise".
"It was an honour just to have him at our awards ceremony. But because of the person that he is I should not have been surprised. Memphis is the first and only club he ran for when he came back to Trinidad.
"In my annual report I lamented that under the former NAAA administration two potential medallists, Wanda Hutson and Renee Clarke from Memphis, selected for the World Youth Games could not go due to a lack of funds. The club is now embarking on a number of fund-raising ventures towards making sure that deserving athletes can represent this country. Ato's generous contribution to me is back up and I am certain this is the likely approach to be taken by the club's management." Ken Doldron, president of the NAAA, said what Ato, the individual, has done was more than what he (Doldron) had seen from any profitable corporate citizen. Memphis, he said, is one of the leading track and field clubs in Trinidad and Tobago and Ato's contribution was a milestone.
"This shows he is not a selfish person; even with money. He sacrificed the 200 metres where he was a sure medallist to run in the 4 by 100 metres with teenagers.
"He saw their talent, while very few gave them a chance. There are a lot of misconceptions about him, but he has the goods."

Rodriguez 3rd in half-lap final.

T&T Express.
DION RODRIGUEZ grabbed centre-stage for Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of the Pan Am Junior Track and Field Championships at the High Performance Sports Centre Stadium in Santa Fe, Argentina yesterday.
The 17-year-old sprinter bagged men’s 200 metres bronze, and then returned to the track to help T&T to third spot in the 4x100m final.
The quartet of Rodriguez, 100m champion Marc Burns, Dwight Neptune and world under-18 sprint champion Darrel Brown went into the championship race as favourites. However, the Brazilians were best on the day, clocking 40.33 seconds to grab the gold, ahead of Jamaica (40.36) and T&T (40.37).
Anchorman Brown got the baton behind the top two, but dug deep into his reserves and ran back hard in a desperate bid for gold. The fastest under-18 sprinter in history almost secured silver for the country, finishing just one-hundredth of a second behind Jamaica’s Orlando Reid.
Burns, the T&T team captain, was a disappointed man at the end of the race.
“But then again, there’s only that much you can ask of the body. We gave it our best and our best was third today.”
The sprint relay bronze took T&T’s medals tally to seven—three gold, one silver and three bronze. That impressive haul from the small team of ten was good enough for fifth spot at the 26-country Championships.
Brazil captured 30 medals—12 gold, 11 silver, seven bronze—to finish first. Cuba (six gold, two bronze) were second, United States (four gold, one silver, two bronze) third, Canada (three gold, five silver, three bronze) fourth and hosts Argentina (two gold, four silver, three bronze) eighth.
Jamaica, the Caribbean track and field giants, could only finish 15th, with four silver and four bronze.
Yesterday, Janil Williams added women’s 5,000m gold to her two-lap title to earn 11th spot for Antigua. Williams clocked 17 minutes, 22.13 seconds.
In the men’s 200m, Rodriguez returned a time of 21.43 seconds.
Going into the half-lap final, the T&T sprinter had the fifth fastest PR (21.08). However, he was able to beat the odds, as well as the discomfort of a serious cold, to earn a spot on the rostrum.
“During the race, I wasn’t breathing properly. That’s one of the main reasons I couldn’t execute properly.”
Rodriguez (lane six) was still strong enough to come off the turn in the hunt for silver.
On the straight, the World Youth (Under-18) Championship 200m bronze medallist battled with Bruno Nacimento Pacheco (lane seven), but the Brazilian had a bit more in reserve, and snatched the silver medal in 21.38 seconds, well behind Cuban gold medallist Alianny Echeverria (21.16).
Rodriguez, though, will have another opportunity to capture a Pan Am Juniors title.
And if T&T’s bid for the 2003 Championships is successful, he will challenge for gold in front of his compatriots.
However, the El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive student is taking one season at a time.
“I’m glad I won a medal. And even though I didn’t perform to the best of my ability, it was a good season because of the medals I won at the World Youth Champs and here at Pan Am. But I’m looking to improve on those performances at next year’s World Juniors in Jamaica.”
For Rodriguez and company, the long trek home begins tomorrow with a short flight to Buenos Aires. There, Team T&T will have another look at Rio de la Plata, Silver River.
The huge, intimidating river—its colour closer to bronze than silver—was mistaken by some members of the T&T contingent for the ocean.
The performance of the red, white and black here in Santa Fe, however, was undoubtedly golden!

TT raise Pan Am Junior Championships medal haul to five

Barry cruises to Pan Am 400 Gold

Newsday.
Damian Barry gave Trinidad and Tobago their third Gold medal at this year's 11th Pan Am Junior Championships at the High Performance Sports Centre Stadium, Santa Fe, Argentina, yesterday.
A determined Barry made hash of the opposition, in the 1400 metre, crossing the finish line in 46.40 seconds, comfortably ahead of Brazilian Luis Eduardo Ambrosio (47.09) and bronze medallist John Valoyes of Colombia (47.48).
Trinidad and Tobago got another medal through decathlete Patrick Russell to bring their haul for the games to date to five — three gold, one silver and one bronze. With two events to complete, Trinidad and Tobago were 1-2 with Russell leading on 5,739 points ahead of compatriot Alan Mitchell, 3,159 points.
In temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, the two Trinidad youngsters faded, with Russell hanging on for the bronze and Mitchell finishing fourth.
Russell accumulated 6,275 points and Mitchell 5,677 points behind gold medallist Ivan Caetano of Brazil 7,107 points, while another Brazilian Andre Pereda Salvino took the silver with 6,282 points.
Meanwhile, Dion Rodriguez will be in the medal hunt today, when he goes into the starting blocks for the 200 metres.
Rodriguez goes into the event with the second fastest time in last night's semi-final.
The Trinidadian clocked 21.72 seconds in finishing behind Cuban Alianny Echeverria Silva who was timed in 21.30 in Heat 2
Heat 1 was won by Mexican Mario Trillo in 21.56 seconds ahead of Pablo Del Valle of Argentina in 21.69 and Jagner Palacios of Colombia in 21.77.
Here are the six 200 metres finalists:
Mario Trillo (Mexico); Alianny Echeverria Silva (Cuba); Pablo Del Valle (Argentina); Dion Rodriguez (TT); Jagnner Palacios (Colombia); Bruno Nacimento Pacheco (Brazil).
Yesterday's results: 400 metres final - 1. Damion Barry (TT) 46.40; 2. Luis Eduardo Ambrosio (Brazil) 47.09; 3. John Valoyes (Colombia) 47.48; 4. Jagnner Palacios (Colombia) 47.72.
5. Luiz Enrique Serra Da Silveira (Brazil) 47.86; 6. Andres Rodriguez (Panama) 48.34; 7. Ryan Therrien (Canada) 48.53; 8. Ariel Pallero (Argentina) 48.60.
Decathlon - 1. Ivan Caetano Da Silva (Brazil) 7,107 pts; 2. Andre Pereda Salvino (Brazil) 6,282; 3. Patrick Russell (TT) 6,275; 4. Alan Mitchell (TT) 5,677. 5. Fernando Martina (Argentina) 5,534.
Dimitri Petropoulos (Canada), Corey Armstrong (Canada), Gabriel Paredes (Argentina) and Christian Lyon (Chile) abandoned the event.

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