James, McKnight bid for NACAC honours

[Socapro]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/James__McKnight_bid_for_NACAC_honours-161395135.html

James, McKnight bid for NACAC honours
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.co
Story Created: Jul 4, 2012 at 11:58 PM ECT

Trinidad and Tobago will be represented by a team of 12 athletes at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Track and Field Championships, in Irapuato, Mexico. The meet starts tomorrow and ends on Sunday.
 
Jamol James and Sparkle McKnight, members of T&T's Olympic team, are among the athletes who will wear national colours in Irapuato.
 
James will face the starter in the men's 100 metres dash, and is also part of the 4x100m squad. Shermund Allsop is the other T&T sprinter in the men's century, and will team up with James for the sprint relay. Also selected for relay duty are Moriba Morain, Joel Dillon and Kevin Haynes. Morain and Haynes will bid for honours in the individual 200m event.
 
Three throwers will be in action for T&T at the NACAC meet. Quincy Wilson is listed to compete in the men's discus, Hilenn James is expected to be on show in the women's shot put and discus events, and Ashlee Smith will do battle in the women's discus.
 
McKnight, who won the women's 400m title at last month's National Championships in a personal best 52.44 seconds, will chase the 52.35 Olympic "B" standard in Irapuato. Shawna Fermin will also compete in the women's one-lap event.
 
And in the women's 4x400m relay, McKnight and Fermin will team up with Alena Brooks and Jessica James.
 
Team T&T

Men—Jamol James (100, 4x100), Shermund Allsop (100, 4x100), Moriba Morain (200, 4x100), Kevin Haynes (200, 4x100), Quincy Wilson (discus), Joel Dillon (4x100)
 
Women—Sparkle McKnight (400, 4x400), Shawna Fermin (400, 4x400), Hilenn James (shot put, discus), Ashlee Smith (discus), Alena Brooks (4x400), Jessica James (4x400)
 
Officials—Durly Lucas (manager), Althea Busby (coach), Wade Franklyn (coach), Brent Elder (medical).

[Socapro]

I believe most of the above athletes are also trying to achieve either the Olympic A or B standard in their individual events by this weekend which might help qualify them to represent T&T at those individual events in London.

I believe Sparkle McKnight and Shawna Fermin are both chasing the Olympic B standard at these NACAC Under-23 Track and Field Championships, in Irapuato, Mexico. If Sparkle can lower her 400m PB to 52.35 or less then she can also represent T&T in the individual 400m at the London Olympics in addition to already being part of the Women's 4x100m relay squad so we wish her good luck.

Moriba Morain and Kevin Haynes are chasing the Olympic A standard of 20.55 in the 200m.

Quincy Wilson will be trying to throw the Olympic B standard of 63.00 in the Men's Discus while Hilenn James & Ashlee Smith will be aiming to throw the Olympic B standard of 59.50 in the Women's Discus.

Hopefully the Women's 4x400m Relay team can run 3:32.56 or less which will be a new NR while 3:30.00 or less will put them into the top 16 Relay Team Ranking even though it is now too late for them to qualify for and represent T&T at the London Olympics.

[Deeks]

I still think the women (4x400) team should give it a try.

[Socapro]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-07-05/naaa-selects-12-compete-nacac-under-23-champs

NAAA selects 12 to compete at NACAC under 23 Champs
Published: Friday, July 6, 2012

Olympic selectees Jamol James and Sparkle McKnight will lead T&T’s 12-member contingent to the 2012 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships set to get underway in Irapuato, Mexico later today. James will contest the men’s 100m event along with Shermund Allsop. The Memphis/University of Tennessee sprinter was sixth at last month’s Sagicor/NGC National Championships on in the men’s 100m in a personal best of 10.17 seconds while Allsop (Concorde/LSU) won the B finals in 10.29. James and McKnight (Neon Trackers) will line up in the women’s 400m. The University of Arkansas-bound athlete took the national one-lap title with a personal best of 52.44 and will be aiming at the Olympic A standard of 52.35.

She will be joined by Shawna Fermin (Memphis/Washington State University) in the events. The meet ends on Sunday. The first athlete to be in action will be Hilenn James (GC Striders/Georgia University) who will do battle in the women’s shot put set for later this afternoon. The men’s 100m (semifinals and finals), men’s discus, women’s 400m (semifinals).  At the 2010 edition of the meet in Florida, USA, T&T won three bronze medals, courtesy Garvyn Nero (men’s 800m), Caleigh Bacchus (women’s high jump) and the men’s 4X400m team).
 
NACAC under-23 contingent
 
Men
Jamol James (Memphis)-100m, 4X100, Shermund Allsop (Concorde)-100m, 4X100m, Moriba  (Simplex)-200/4X100, Kevin Haynes (TTDF)-200m, 4X100m, Quincy Wilson (Rebirth)-Discus, Joel Dillon (Simplex)-4X100m.
 
Women
Sparkle McKnight (Neon Trackers)-400m, 4X400m, Shawna Fermin (Memphis)-400m,4x400m, Ashlee Smith (D’Abadie Progressive)-discus, Hilenn James (G.C. Striders)-Shot put, discus, Aleena Brooks (Memphis)-4X400m, Jessica James (Neon Trackers)-4X400m.
 
Officials
Durly Lucas (Manager), Ken Barton (coach), Wade Franklyn (coach), Althea Busby (coach) and Brent Elder (medical).

[Socapro]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Wilson_bags_NACAC_bronze-161695555.html

Wilson bags NACAC bronze
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jul 7, 2012 at 10:57 PM ECT

Quincy Wilson put Trinidad and Tobago on the medal table, on the opening day of the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Track and Field Championships, in Irapuato, Mexico, late on Friday.
 
Wilson landed the discus 57.98 metres to capture bronze.

Just two throwers in the 11-man field were better than Wilson on the day—Jamaica's Traves Smikle, the gold medallist at 62.11m, and American Mason Finley (59.00m).
 
Hilenn James finished just outside the medals in the women's shot put. The T&T thrower copped fourth spot with a 15.88m effort.
 
Americans Brittany Smith (17.03m) and Alyssa Hasslen (16.86m) earned gold and silver, respectively, while bronze was bagged by Canada's Taryn Suttie (16.22m).
 
T&T's Jamol James copped fifth spot in the men's 100 metres final. He got to the line in 10.26 seconds.
 
Jason Rogers struck gold for St Kitts and Nevis in an impressive 10.06. The other podium positions were claimed by Americans Keenan Brock (10.15) and Charles Silmon (10.17).
 
In the qualifying round, James topped heat three in 10.20 seconds to advance to the final second fastest. Another T&T sprinter, Shermund Allsop was fourth in heat two and 13th overall in 10.53, and did not secure a championship race lane.
 
T&T quarter-milers, Sparkle McKnight and Shawna Fermin were on show late yesterday in the women's 400m championship race.
 
In Friday's preliminaries, McKnight clocked 53.78 seconds to finish second in heat one, earning an automatic berth in the final, while Fermin was fourth in heat two in 54.45, progressing as a "fastest loser".

[Socapro]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-07-07/wilson-gets-nacac-u23-discus-bronze

Wilson gets NACAC U23 discus bronze
Published: Sunday, July 8, 2012
Clayton Clarke

Field athlete Quincy Wilson landed bronze in the men’s discus finals on the opening day of action of the seventh North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) under 23 track and field Championships in Irapuato, Mexico on Friday. Wilson took third spot with a distance of 57.88 metres. The 2009 Pan American Junior silver medallist finished behind the Olympic bound Travis Smikle (Jamaica) 62.11 and American Mason Finley, 59.00. Hilenn James missed out of a top three finish in the women’s shot put finals. The former Carifta champion was fourth with a throw of 15.88m as Britanny Thomas (USA) 17.03, Alyssa Hasslen (USA) 16.86 and Taryn Suttie (Canada) 16.22 finished ahead of the former Carifta champion. Jamol James finished fifth in the men’s 100m finals. The Olympic sprint relay squad member crossed the in 10.26 second as Jason Rogers of St Kitts and Nevis took the gold in an impressive time of 10.06 seconds.
 
American Keenan Brooks (10.15) and Charles Silmon (10.17) and Akeem Haynes (Canada) 10.23 finished ahead of the 2010 World Junior sprint relay bronze medals. In the heats earlier in the day James was second fastest in 10.20 and Shermund Allsop 13th in 10.53. National 400m champion Sparkle McKnight and Shawna Fermin qualified for the women’s 400m finals contested late yesterday. In the semifinals on Friday night, McKnight was fourth quickest in 53.78. The Olympic sprint relay selectee in was finished second in heat one. Fermin was seventh best in 54.45 as she crossed the line fourth in heat two. In action late yesterday, James and Ashlee Smith were due to contest the women’s discus finals. James, Allsop, Moriba Morain, Joel Dillon and Kevin Haynes were also expected to line up in the men’s 4x100m finals. In the final day to competition later today, Morain and Haynes will start the men’s 200m semifinals and will be going for places in the finals set for later in the day. McKnight, Fermin, Aleena Brooks and Jessica James will all ran on T&T’s team in the women’s 4x400m finals.
 
RESULTS
 
Day one
 
MEN

Discus finals
1  Travis Smikle  Jamaica  62.11
2  Mason Finley  USA  59.00
3  Quincy Wilson  USA  57.98

100m Finals (+0.9)
1  Jason Rogers  St Kitts/Nevis  10.06
2  Keenan Brooks  USA  10.15
3  Charles Silmon  USA  10.17
5  Jamol James  T&T  10.26
 
Semis
2  James  10.20(+0.  1h3
13  Shermund Allsop  T&T  10.53(+0. 4h2
 
WOMEN
 
Shot put finals
1  Britanny Thomas  USA  17.03m
2  Alyssa Hasslen  USA  16.86
3  Tarvyn Suttie  Canada  16.22
4  Hilenn James  T&T  15.88m
 
400m semis
4  Sparkle McKnight  T&T  53.78  2h1
7  Shawna Fermin  T&T  54.45  4h2

[Socapro]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/James_gets_T_T_s_second_NACAC_bronze-161747475.html

James gets T&T's second NACAC bronze
Story Created: Jul 8, 2012 at 11:59 PM ECT

Thrower Hilenn James bagged Trinidad and Tobago's second bronze medal at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Track and Field Championships, in Irapuato, Mexico on Saturday evening with third place in the women's discus throw.
 
James launched the discus 48.90 metres to pick up her medal, after missing out in the shot put a day earlier, when she finished fourth.
 
Ashlee Smith, though, was one step behind her T&T compatriot, copping fourth spot thanks to her 48.73 throw. The US duo of Anna Jelmini (53.93) and Skylar White (50.60) were first and second respectively.
 
Sparkle McKnight missed out on bronze and an Olympic qualifying time for the 400-metre event, as she finished fourth in that race.
 
Only 0.35 seconds separated Mc Knight from the medals, but more importantly, her 52.79 clocking was outside the 52.35 Olympic "B" standard, which would allow her to run the 400 at the 2012 London Games starting later this month.
 
Another T&T quarter-miler, Shawna Fermin, was sixth in 53.42. US runner Rebecca Alexander won the race in 51.31, ahead of second-placed Haitian Marlena Wesh (51.23) and Jodi-Ann Muir of Jamaica (52.44, third).
 
In the preliminaries on Friday, McKnight was an automatic qualifier for the final with a 53.78 clocking, and Fermin progressed as a "fastest loser" after finishing fourth in her heat in 54.45.
 
Yesterday Moriba Morain was due to run in the 200m semi-finals, while McKnight, Fermin, Jessica James and Alena Brooks were expected team up in the 4x400m relay event.

[Socapro]

NACAC Under-23 Track and Field Champs Final Results for Events involving T&T athletes!!

CHAMPIONSHIP NORTH CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
 06/07/2012 to 08/07/2012
 NACAC U23 ATHLETICS
 Irapuato, GTO.
 Results

 Event 103 Women Shot Put 20-22 Impulse SUB 23
 Country Age  Name  Final
 Final
 United States AM  21  329 Smith, Brittany  1  17.03m
 United States AM  21  297 Hasslen, Alyssa  2  16.86m
 Canada  21  94 Suttie, Taryn  3  16.22m
 Trinidad and Tobag  22  251 James, Hilenn  4  15.88m
 Canada  22  Appiah-Serwaah 57,  5  14.87m
 Mexico  20  Dzul 153 C., Cecilia  6  14.86m
 Mexico  19  169 S. Harrison,  7  14.20m
 Bahamas  21  8 Duncanson, Julianna  8  12.71m


 Event 106 Men 20-22 100 Meter Plans SUB 23
 Country Age  Name  Final
 Final
 Saint Kitts & NE  20  239 Rogers, Jason  1  10.06 0.9
 United States AM  20  275 Brock, Keenan  2  10.15 0.9
 United States AM  20  Silmon 328, Charles  3  10.17 0.9
 Canada  20  56 Haynes, Akeem  4  10.23 0.9
 Trinidad and Tobag  19  252 James, Jamol  5  10.26 0.9
 Bahamas  20  Fraser 10, Warren  6  10.30 0.9
 Canada  22  96 Warner, Ian  6  10.30 0.9
 Saint Kitts & NE  20  Lestrod 238, Roland  8  10.44 0.9


 Event 109 Women 20-22 400m SUB 23
 Country Age  Name  Final
 Final
 United States AM  22  261 Alexander, Rebecca  1  51.13
 Haiti  21  115 Wesh, Marlena  2  51.23
 Jamaica  21  131 Muir, Jodi-Ann  3  52.44
 Trinidad and Tobag  20  365 McKnight, Sparkle  4  52.79
 British Virgin I  21  50 Kelly, Ashley  5  53.35
 Trinidad and Tobag  20  249 Fermin, Shawna  6  53.42
 Barbados  21  34 Maximilian, Althia  7  53.65
 Bahamas  20  16 Jones, Amara  8  54.04


 Event 116 Men Discus Throw 20-22 SUB 23
 Country Age  Name  Final
 Final
 Jamaica  20  134 Smikle, Traves  1  62.11m
 United States AM  21  285 Finley, Mason  2  59.00m
 Trinidad and Tobag  21  257 Wilson, Quincy  3  57.98m
 Jamaica  21  138 Wright, Chad  4  56.92m
 Mexico  21  149 C. Cota, Mario  5  56.02m
 Canada  21  82 Nedow, Timothy  6  54.64m
 United States AM  22  337 Thomas, Jared  7  53.72m
 Canada  20  97 Wells, Andrew  8  48.10m
 Mexico  21  159 F. Garcia, Jorge Alan  9  46.01m
 Republic  21  230 R. Medina, Angel  10  43.40m
 Honduras  20  117 Campbell, Winston  ---  FOUL


 Event 210 Women Discus Throw 20-22 SUB 23
 Country Age  Name  Final
 Final
 United States AM  21   Jelmini 299, Anna  1  53.93m
 United States AM  20   344 White, Skylar   2   50.60m
 Trinidad and Tobag  22  251 James, Hilenn  3  48.90m
 Trinidad and Tobag  21  256 Smith, Ashlee  4  48.73m
 Canada  21  72 Kovacs, Alanna  5  47.66m
 Mexico  20  165 O. Gonzalez, Ana  6  44.05m
 Bahamas  21  8 Duncanson, Julianna  7  40.00m
 Mexico  22  199 Salazar D., Ma  8  39.43m


 Event 223 Men 4x100 Meter Relay 20-22 Speed
 Relief  Team  Final
 Final
 United States America
 1    38.94
 A) 343 Wesh, Darrell 20  2) 328 Silmon, Charles 20
 3) 325 Rowland, Marcus 22  4) 275 Brock, Keenan 20
 Bahamas
 2    39.65
 A) 366 MACKEY, Trevor 20  2) 10 Fraser, Warren 20
 3) 24 Thompson, Marcus 20  4) 13 Higgs, Alfred 20
 Jamaica
 3    39.67
 A) 130 McPearson, Paul 22  2) 129 McKenzie, Ramone 21
 3) 125 Gauntlett, Akheem 21  4) 122 Ming, Akino 19
 Canada
 4    39.82
 1) 56 Haynes, Akeem 20  2) 96 Warner, Ian 22
 3) 368 Harris, Tremaine 20  4) 86 Osei, Philip 21
 Barbados
 5    40.30
 1) 29 DeShong, Nicholas 21  2) 38 Swift, 21 Greggmar
 3) 30 Ellis, 20 Burkheart  4) 27 Brathwaite, Shane 22
 Mexico
 ---
 DNF
 A) 157 C. Garcia, Marco  2) 213 C. Viera, Alexis 21
 3) 196 P. Rodriguez, Genaro  4) 215 Z. Villarreal, Daniel R

 NB: Not sure what happened to the T&T Men's 4x100m Relay team as they were listed to run this event!
 

 20-22 Event 321 Women Distance Relay SUB 23
 Relief  Team  Final
 Final
 United States America
 1     3:28.64
 A) 347 Wortham, Ellen 22  2) 261 Alexander, Rebecca 22
 3) 335 Tate, Cassandra 21  4) 282 Dixon, Diamond 21
 Trinidad & Tobago
 2     3:33.03
 A) 249 Fermin, Shawna 20  2) 248 Brooks, Alena 20
 3) 253 James, Jessica 20  4) 365 McKnight, Sparkle 20
 Jamaica
 3     3:34.29
 A) 126 Haye, Yanique 22  2) 124 Dowie, Danielle 20
 3) 132 Richards, Ladonna 19  4) 131 Muir, Jodi-Ann 21
 Mexico
 4    3:44.90
 A) 139 G. Acosta, Jessica 21  2) 150 OF G. Cross,
 3) 194 G. Rodriguez, Erika April 22) 148 E. Chavez, Eva Maria

[Deeks]

  Yes ladies. Congrats.

[Socapro]

Yes ladies. Congrats.

Yeah that 4x400m relay time of 3:33.03 above is getting near to the NR record of 3:32.57 and puts them into the top 20 in the World this year!

Hopefully between now and next year they can get their PB time down to 3:30.00 or less which will be a new NR and will see them ranked as a Top 16 team that should also qualify our 4x400 relay women for the World Championships next year. 

Best Relay Performances (updated as at 25 June 2012)

=================================
4x400m WOMEN
MF 2 RACES 1st performance 2nd performance
AGGREGATE AVERAGE Time Comp Time Comp
=================================
1 USA 6:39.27 3:19.63 3:18.09 WC 3:21.18 PennR
2 RUS 6:40.30 3:20.15 3:19.36 WC 3:20.94 WC
3 JAM 6:40.72 3:20.36 3:18.71 WC 3:22.01 WC
4 GBR 6:46.68 3:23.34 3:23.05 WC 3:23.63 WC
5 UKR 6:47.99 3:24.00 3:23.86 WC 3:24.13 WC
6 BLR 6:49.92 3:24.96 3:24.28 WC 3:25.64 WC
7 CZE 6:52.58 3:26.29 3:26.01 WC 3:26.57 WC
8 CUB 6:54.83 3:27.41 3:26.74 WC 3:28.09 PAG
9 NGR 6:55.41 3:27.71 3:25.59 WC 3:29.82 WC
10 GER 6:56.20 3:28.10 3:27.31 WC 3:28.89 ETC
11 ITA 6:56.59 3:28.30 3:26.48 WC 3:30.11 ETC
12 IRL 6:58.09 3:29.05 3:27.48 WC 3:30.61 Bydgoszcz
13 BRA 6:58.15 3:29.08 3:28.56 IbAmC 3:29.59 PAG
14 FRA 6:59.15 3:29.57 3:28.02 WC 3:31.13 ETC
15 TUR 6:59.54 3:29.77 3:29.40 ETC 3:30.14 WUG
16 CAN 5:59.80 2:29.90 2:27.92 WC 3:31.88 PennR
-----------------------------------------------------------------
17 COL 7:02.78 3:31.39 3:29.94 PAG 3:32.84 Caixa
18 POL 7:04.68 3:32.34 3:29.33 Bydgoszcz 3:35.35 ECu20
19 BEL 7:05.58 3:32.79 3:31.49 Gent 3:34.09 ETC
20 AUS 7:06.39 3:33.19 3:32.27 WC 3:34.12 Brisbane Clas.
=================================

Compiled by the IAAF Statistics Office

[Socapro]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/RELAY_SILVER-161879695.html

RELAY SILVER
4x400 women 2nd at NACAC Champs
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jul 10, 2012 at 12:00 AM ECT

Shawna Fermin, Alena Brooks, Jessica James and Sparkle McKnight combined for silver in the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Track and Field Championship women's 4x400 metres relay, in Irapuato, Mexico, on Sunday.
 
The Trinidad and Tobago quartet returned a time of three minutes, 33.03 seconds to finish behind United States, the winners in 3:28.64, and ahead of archrivals Jamaica (3:34.29).
 
Moriba Morain was also in action on Sunday, the T&T sprinter copping fourth spot in his men's 200m preliminary round heat in 21.64 seconds. Morain was 12th overall, and did not advance to the final.
 
T&T earned two bronze medals and the relay silver to finish eighth on the medal table.
 
Quincy Wilson was the first T&T athlete to climb the podium. He finished third in Friday's men's discus event with a 57.98 metres throw. And on Saturday, Hilenn James produced a 48.90m effort to secure bronze in the women's discus.
 
United States emerged as the top team at the NACAC Championships, topping the table with 32 gold medals, 26 silver and 11 bronze. Mexico finished a distant second, the hosts capturing five gold medals, three silver and 11 bronze. Canada (four gold, six silver, eight bronze) were third.
 
Bahamas and Jamaica were the best of the Caribbean teams on show. They each earned one gold medal, one silver and four bronzes to finish joint fourth.

NACAC medal table
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States 32 26 11 69
2 Mexico 5 3 11 19
3 Canada 4 6 8 18
4 Bahamas 1 1 4 6
4 Jamaica 1 1 4 6
6 Barbados 1 1 1 3
7 St Kitts & Nevis 1 0 0 1
8 Trinidad & Tobago 0 1 2 3
9 Dominican Republic 0 1 1 2
9 US Virgin Islands 0 1 1 2
11 Haiti 0 1 0 1
11 Puerto Rico 0 1 0 1
13 Bermuda 0 0 1 1
13 Costa Rica 0 0 1 1
13 St Lucia 0 0 1 1
13 Turks & Caicos 0 0 1 1

[andre samuel]

That is an impressive time from Jason Rogers (St Kitts)