Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum

Sports => What about Track & Field => Topic started by: Socapro on May 29, 2015, 09:47:35 AM

Title: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on May 29, 2015, 09:47:35 AM

Ato Boldon Guides Khalifa St. Fort To Her Dreams (http://www.milesplit.com/articles/155419?page=1)
By Johanna Gretschel MileSplit Spotlight May 27, 2015
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20wins%20100m%20at%20the%20Golden%20South%20Classic%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20wins%20100m%20at%20the%20Golden%20South%20Classic%202015.jpg.html)

With a sizzling 11.43, Khalifa St. Fort ran the third-fastest wind-legal 100m in the nation this year to win the Golden South Classic last weekend. The victory was noteworthy not only as the final auto qualifier for the adidas Dream 100, a showdown amongst the nation's best sprinters at the adidas Grand Prix on June 13, but also for defeating the best short sprinters in the state of Florida.
 
Some of those girls were her former teammates. St. Fort, a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas, was not part of the Raiders' third consecutive Florida Class 4A State Championship team title earlier this month.
 
No one will say exactly why, but the powerhouse sprint program - which has produced multiple state champions as well as the national high school record in the 4x200m (1:33.43) last year - may be without the fastest kid in school.
 
St. Fort's last race in the gold and blue uniform was an 11.46 (+4.4) 100m runner-up finish at the Texas Relays in March, which came at the heels of racing legs on the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relays.
 
That was her last meet, period, this season before Golden South.

St. Fort is no longer coached by Alex Armenteros, the STA head coach and 2014 National Track and Field Coach of the Year, as named by the National High School Coaches' Association.
 
But his replacement is no slouch. That's Ato Boldon, the four-time Olympic medalist and the Trinidad and Tobago national record holder for 50m, 60m and 200m. Since retiring from the sport in 2004, Boldon has developed into one of the most recognizable personalities in the sport of track and field. He is an ESPN and NBC Sports broadcast analyst and was recently named an IAAF Ambassador.
 
"Understand this is not what I do - go seeking high school athletes," Boldon said. "I am busy traveling the world and broadcasting in my jobs as broadcaster and ambassador for the sport, but when I see a young talent being wasted, I am compelled to get involved."

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Ato%20Boldons%20facebook%20comments%20about%20Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20screen%20shot%202015-05-27.png) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Ato%20Boldons%20facebook%20comments%20about%20Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20screen%20shot%202015-05-27.png.html)

Lost In The Mix At A Powerhouse
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20and%20Krystal%20Sparling%20finished%20third%20and%20second%20respectively%20for%20St.%20Thomas%20Aquinas%20in%20the%202014%20Florida%20Class%204A%20State%20100m%20finals%20with%20Diamond%20Spaulding%20taking%20fifth.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20and%20Krystal%20Sparling%20finished%20third%20and%20second%20respectively%20for%20St.%20Thomas%20Aquinas%20in%20the%202014%20Florida%20Class%204A%20State%20100m%20finals%20with%20Diamond%20Spaulding%20taking%20fifth.jpg.html)
Krystal Sparling and Khalifa St. Fort finished second and third, respectively, for St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2014 Florida Class 4A State 100m finals with Diamond Spaulding taking fifth. The trio also took second, third and fourth in the 200m finals.

A year ago, St. Fort was just one of many talented sprinters on the St. Thomas Aquinas roster.
 
She was nowhere near the star on a team that featured Kendall Ellis, a 52.95 400m/24.18 200m talent; Krystal Sparling, a 11.34 100m/23.34 200m runner as a junior; and Diamond Spaulding, an all-star pick-up after transferring from American Heritage with 11.51 100m/23.00 200m credentials.
 
With a total of about 30 highly competitive student-athletes on the roster for a team that swept the boys and girls state titles, St. Fort was the one who got lost in the mix.
 
"Unfortunately, St. Thomas had too many kids on it so it was hard for Coach Alex to coach us on individual aspects when he has such a big team," she said.
 
As a middle schooler, she was a 12-second 100m sprinter. But two years later at STA, she was still awaiting improvement.
 
Bewildered, her parents reached out to Boldon for guidance. Luckily for the St. Fort family, one of the most well-regarded personalities in the sport of track and field resides in Miramar, Florida and was willing to evaluate their daughter.
 
"I said to [Mr. St. Fort], 'she could be as good as she wants to be, she's definitely exceptional.' He looked at me, like 'you must say that to everyone.'
 
"I am extremely busy so I am not in the habit of going out and seeking athletes to coach," Boldon said. "...I said, 'I think she's exceptional and I would be willing to work with her.'"
 
This evaluation took place in March of 2014. Two months later, St. Fort had improved from a consistent 12-second sprinter to an 11.7 girl. She contributed a solid 22 points to the 2014 Florida Class 4A state title, including two third-place finishes in the 100m and 200m, as well as a leg on the winning 4x100m relay. By the end of the championship season, she improved her PR to 11.51.

This all while attending her regular after school practices at St. Thomas Aquinas, then training with Coach Boldon on weekends and a few days during the week, as schedules allowed.
 
"She ran 11.51 last year and... she was really bad out of the blocks because no one had ever showed her how to start properly," Boldon said. "That was No. 8 in the country last year."
 
The St. Forts told Armenteros that they were consulting Boldon before they approached the analyst.

"Because he had such little regard for her, he said, 'no problem,'" Boldon said. "She went from 12.5 to 11.5 in a matter of months. Then it became a problem for him."

St. Fort started training full-time with Boldon in October, doing conditioning to prepare for this spring.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20right%20surprise%20victor%20in%202015%20Golden%20South%20Classic%20100m.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20right%20surprise%20victor%20in%202015%20Golden%20South%20Classic%20100m.jpg.html)
Khalifa St. Fort was the surprise victor in the 2015 Golden South Classic 100m.

"By the time she went back to practice, she was looking different, blowing everybody away in practice," Boldon said. "And I think it just became, you can't serve two masters. And buying into my philosophy, she couldn't buy into the philosophy at her high school. It became a problem for St. Thomas Aquinas for her to be working with me."
 
St. Fort suited up one final time in the Raiders' gold and blue for the Texas Relays during the weekend of March 25 to 28, where she ran her then-PR of 11.46.
 
"After Texas Relays, we had a little bit of issues, but I'd rather not get into specifics," St. Fort said. After that, I decided to train with Coach Ato full-time... I have nothing bad to say about the St. Thomas Aquinas program, it just wasn't working with me physically and personally."

Back to Competition
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20amp%20Ato%20Boldon%20in%20training.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20amp%20Ato%20Boldon%20in%20training.jpg.html)

With a two-month layover between the Texas Relays and the Golden South Classic, neither St. Fort nor Boldon knew what to expect.
 
"I've never had two months off from racing," St. Fort said. "[But] it didn't affect me at all, to be honest, because the same intensity I bring to practice is the same intensity I have in a race. So nothing feels different."
 
Training full-time with an Olympian is not easy.

"I have a lot of people who come and do not last a week with me," said Boldon. "It's not a democracy. I am very set in my ways."
 
But having one philosophy to follow has helped St. Fort focus.

"Coach Ato's philosophy just works better for me to understand the sport," she said. "He explains everything that we're doing and he makes sure I understand what we're doing and why we're doing it and the dangers of what I could do if I don't do it right."
 
See below for a typical training week with Khalifa St. Fort and Ato Boldon.

DAY	TYPICAL TRAINING
Monday	9x60m or 6x60m followed by all-out 200m, or 300-200-100 ladder
Tuesday	Form starts out of the blocks to 10m, 20m mark - "making sure my drive phase is okay," arms are where they're supposed to be, make sure I'm staying low"
Wednesday	9x30m or 5 starts coming out of the blocks to 10m, 4 starts to 20m, 3 starts to 30m
Thursday	Stairs Day - 1 flight of 24 steps, girls climb in 5 double-legged bounds, boys do 4 bounds
Friday	OFF Day or practice block starts
Saturday	Race Day or 7x100m
Sunday	OFF Day

The key test is Thursday's stairs workout.

"When I watch my athletes go up the stairs, I know how ready they are," Boldon said. "When they do it in a very, very easy fashion, I know they are ready.
 
"Khalifa did that in the last two weeks and she's running 60 meters in the low seven seconds range and then to see her go up those steps, it's just a question of she has to go up [to race] and execute."
 
On the line at the Golden South Classic 100m, St. Fort got set in her blocks next to Sparling and Spaulding, who were hot off a Raiders team title at the 4A state meet. The PA introduced the high school junior as the least heralded of the St. Thomas Aquinas trio.
 
"One girl from St. Thomas is gonna make it, but probably not the one most people thought was gonna make it between Spaulding and Sparling," said MileSplit race commentator Brandon Miles. "It's St. Fort!"
 
It was St. Fort who snuck up on the inside, racing a personal record of 11.43 as the surprise victor.
 
The adidas Dream 100 is on Friday, June 13. But before that, St. Fort and Boldon will travel to Trinidad and Tobago for the national junior trials to qualify for the World Youth Championships this summer in Cali, Colombia.
 
"My mom's side of the family is from there so I have a lot of family there," said St. Fort, who visited the Caribbean nation once as a seven-year-old. "I've always wanted to run for them in the Olympics and it's something that [Boldon] made possible. It makes me feel really happy that I'm about to go down the same path that he went down and that I'm able to make the country that I hold dear to my heart proud."
 
The next step is qualifying.

The first step was believing.

Title: REAL DEAL: Ato heaps praises on St Fort
Post by: Socapro on July 20, 2015, 03:28:52 AM

I think she now deserves her own thread and congrats to Khalifa once again on your WYC 100m silver! :applause:

REAL DEAL: Ato heaps praises on St Fort (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150719/sports/real-deal-ato-heaps-praises-on-st-fort)
By Kwame Laurence, kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Jul 19, 2015, 9:39 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20left%20poses%20with%20her%20IAAF%20World%20Youth%20Championship%20girls%20100%20metres%20silver%20medal%20in%20Cali%20Colombia.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20left%20poses%20with%20her%20IAAF%20World%20Youth%20Championship%20girls%20100%20metres%20silver%20medal%20in%20Cali%20Colombia.jpg.html)
PROUD ON THE PODIUM: Trinidad and Tobago's Khalifa St Fort, left, poses with her IAAF World
Youth Championship girls' 100 metres silver medal, in Cali, Colombia, on Thursday night.
Also in the photo are gold medallist Candace Hill, centre, and bronze medallist Jayla Kirkland,
both of the United States. —Photo: © Getty Images for IAAF

"Khalifa is fearless in a way that I've never seen a young female sprinter, so she goes out there and has fun and truly enjoys it. That's championship pedigree."

Ato Boldon was high in praise for Khalifa St Fort, the 17-year-old sprinter he steered to girls' 100 metres silver at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Boldon is no stranger to the global stage. He has four Olympic medals, and is the 1997 200m world champion. But on Thursday night, the retired track star experienced a global final as a coach for the very first time.

"New territory for me man," Boldon told the Express.

"I was nervous for that first round like never before, but she was so calm and assured she reassured me. Plus she was waving and smiling and talking to people before the race, so I said ok if she is that calm I should be too."

Boldon was very proud of his young charge.

"To be quite honest I am getting way too much credit for her progress. She is that good. She just needed someone to see it, believe In her and stop making her feel like she wasn't good enough compared to other athletes who were better known or higher rated. For me to be able to contribute to what she has done is amazing, because it's so unexpected. I never planned to be here, but I'm glad God put me here, because she has made my year!"

In Thursday's final, American-born St Fort clocked 11.19 seconds, her third T&T under-18 record in the space of nine hours. She clocked 11.39 in the first round, and then bettered her national standard with an 11.24 run in the semis. It took an 11.08 seconds Championship record run from American world youth record holder Candace Hill to deny St Fort the global title.

"Khalifa has been under-appreciated, under-coached, under-valued and under-rated for the past two years, so my surprise is not the times. I told her father she would run 11.2 when we started training last year. In practice I can see she is actually on course to run 11.0. She has had awful luck with no tailwinds at all in any of her big races since she has been ready to roll. The 11.19 was with no wind whatsoever.

"My plan," Boldon declared, "doesn't involve getting her ready for April or May. It involves getting her ready for July and August. The surprise for me was how well she performs under pressure. At 17!? She was up against the fastest girl in history, and her attitude was she will have to run her best race ever to beat me, which is what happened. Candace's time with no wind is superior to her 10.98 with a 2.0."

St Fort's 11.19 scorcher is 14-hundredths of a second faster than the 11.33 IAAF World Championship qualifying standard. Boldon said he wants the talented teen to represent the Red, White and Black at the August 22-30 World Champs in Beijing, China.

"I am going to officially ask Monday that she be sent to Beijing, even though it will be a little complicated with school. I don't think she should go just because of the times she ran and because only Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Michelle-Lee Ahye have run faster. I think she should go because it's an investment in arguably the best young female sprinter we have ever had.

"She is ready," Coach Ato continued, "her confidence is sky high and she is hungry. I had to tell her she could not practice today (Saturday), but we are back to work on Sunday (yesterday). She can run 11.0 with a tailwind and she has nothing to lose and everything to gain by being in Beijing in terms of experience and big stage reps."

Boldon added that St Fort will enhance T&T's chances in the women's 4x100m relay.

"As people saw from Colombia she will not be overwhelmed by the occasion. The women have done well in semi-finals and not so much in finals. I would like to be given a chance to fix that. They'll be medal contenders in Beijing, Khalifa or not, but Khalifa can make that team better. Khalifa on that relay is an investment in the country's future, and the start of ending our Olympic drought on the women's side."

No female athlete from T&T has ever achieved a podium finish at the Olympic Games. Boldon believes that statistic could change at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Next year might be a bit early for an individual Olympic medal (from Khalifa) at 18, but relay definitely. I think Kelly-Ann and Michelle are capable of ending the Olympic female drought individually, but if not, Khalifa is the one, in Tokyo 2020 when she will be 22. I was that age," Boldon ended, "when I ended the drought from 1976-96."

St Fort's silver was T&T's only medal at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships. It ended a 10-year drought at the global under-18 meet, and earned the country joint-26th spot on the medal table, with Austria, Norway, Poland and Turkey.

United States finished first with eight gold medals, five silver and six bronze, while Kenya (five gold, four silver, four bronze) and Japan (three gold, one silver, one bronze) were second and third, respectively. Jamaica, with one gold medal, were joint-16th, with Ecuador, Moldova, Romania and Switzerland.

Title: Interview: Ato Boldon with his Star Athlete Khalifa St. Fort #3 Ranked Junior
Post by: Socapro on July 20, 2015, 08:52:30 PM

Great Interview with Ato Boldon & his Star Athlete Khalifa St. Fort #3 Ranked JR. Athlete in the world in the 100m.

Interview: Ato Boldon with his Star Athlete Khalifa St. Fort #3 Ranked JR. Athlete
https://www.youtube.com/v/JCoicE2ZZ2g

PS:
Since the 2015 IAAF World Junior Champs in Cali, Colombia, Khalifa St. Fort's ranking has moved up to #2 in the World. See link: http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/100-metres/outdoor/women/youth/2015

Title: Behind The Scenes With Khalifa St. Fort
Post by: Socapro on July 20, 2015, 09:06:51 PM

We talk to Khalifa St. Fort and coach Ato Bolden about their preparations for the Adidas Grand Prix this Saturday.

Behind The Scenes With Khalifa St. Fort
https://www.youtube.com/v/Psopiajh0SY

Title: Khalifa St Fort's performances in Semi-final & Final of World Youth Champs 2015
Post by: Socapro on July 20, 2015, 09:18:49 PM

Here are Khalifa's performances in the Semi-final and Final of the 9th IAAF World Youth Championships 2015 in Cali, Colombia.

Sprinting Masterclass Khalifa St Fort 11.24 PR 100m Semi World Youth Champs 2015
https://www.youtube.com/v/dt-GdbC_As4
100 METRES GIRLS SEMI-FINAL
1 1515 Khalifa ST. FORT TTO TTO 11.24 Q CR 0.177
2 1202 Estelle RAFFAI FRA FRA 11.64 Q 0.144
3 1228 Keshia Beverly KWADWO GER GER 11.66 0.208
4 1277 Diana VAISMAN ISR ISR 11.79 0.133
5 1360 Mechaela HYACINTH LCA LCA 11.87 PB 0.189
6 1312 Vanesha PUSEY JAM JAM 11.89 0.189
7 1402 Helene RØNNINGEN NOR NOR 11.94 0.167
8 1038 Ana Carolina AZEVEDO BRA BRA 11.95 0.202


Candace Hill 11.08 CR wins 100m Final Khalifa St Fort 2nd 11.19 PR World Youth Champs 2015
https://www.youtube.com/v/Kdqn_w1Vmc8
100 METRES GIRLS FINAL
1 1547 Candace HILL USA USA 11.08 CR 0.164
2 1515 Khalifa ST. FORT TTO TTO 11.19 PB 0.170
3 1551 Jayla KIRKLAND USA USA 11.41 PB 0.191
4 1031 Tristan EVELYN BAR BAR 11.59 0.137
5 1314 Kimone SHAW JAM JAM 11.65 0.174
6 1205 Hannah BRIER GBR GBR 11.66 0.157
7 1202 Estelle RAFFAI FRA FRA 11.73 0.150
8 1228 Keshia Beverly KWADWO GER GER 11.76 0.181

Title: Khalifa St Fort Thread
Post by: royal on July 24, 2015, 06:29:37 PM

Khalifa ST. Fort ‏@khalifastfort

http://COULD.NOT.BE .HAPPIER! Got word today that I’m heading to the @iaaforg #Beijing2015 World Championships for #TrinidadandTobago

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on July 24, 2015, 07:09:15 PM

Quote from: royal on July 24, 2015, 06:29:37 PM

Khalifa ST. Fort ‏@khalifastfort

http://COULD.NOT.BE .HAPPIER! Got word today that I’m heading to the @iaaforg #Beijing2015 World Championships for #TrinidadandTobago

Wish her a successful career. This is just the beginning. Let us see what her future hold

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on July 24, 2015, 07:34:02 PM

Quote from: Sando prince on July 24, 2015, 07:09:15 PM

Quote from: royal on July 24, 2015, 06:29:37 PM

Khalifa ST. Fort ‏@khalifastfort

http://COULD.NOT.BE .HAPPIER! Got word today that I’m heading to the @iaaforg #Beijing2015 World Championships for #TrinidadandTobago

Wish her a successful career. This is just the beginning. Let us see what her future hold

Wow! Congrats Khalifa and coach Ato for a job well done, so far. 17 yrs and going to the WC. What a dream! God Bless!!!

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on July 31, 2015, 08:08:41 PM

Quote

Trinidad and Tobago's Khalifa ST. Fort wins gold in the Women's 100m Final ‪#‎PanAmJrs‬ with a time of 11.31s

https://www.facebook.com/TTOlympicCommittee/photos/a.689083454471461.1073741834.123604181019394/891931737519964/?type=1&theater

(https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11831716_891931737519964_5257041924068436036_n.jpg?oh=1d72843c0a4546240287a3b03cb610c9&oe=56506870)

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on August 01, 2015, 12:08:23 PM

A Chance to Vote Online For Khalifa St Fort for 'Florida Girls T&F Athlete Of The Year'

http://fl.milesplit.com/articles/158617-vote-for-florida-girls-tf-athlete-of-the-year

KHALIFA ST. FORT is the new Pan American Junior 100m champion.
Running in lane 4, St. Fort,17, took gold in the Women's 100m Final on Friday in Edmonton, Canada, clocking a time of 11.31, to finish ahead of Aleia Hobbs (11.50) and Teahna Daniels (11.54), both of the USA.

Coached by T&T's four-time Olympian Ato Boldon, it was the second time that the US-born athlete with Trini roots represented Trinidad and Tobago on an international level.
Now, St Fort is a contender to be selected as Florida's girls track and field athlete of the year.

Voting is taking place online and the public has until August 2nd, 2015, to cast their votes.


http://fl.milesplit.com/articles/158617-vote-for-florida-girls-tf-athlete-of-the-year

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on August 29, 2015, 11:56:38 AM

Baptiste hails St Fort
Bright future for T&T in women's sprinting

http://trinidadexpress.com/20150828/sports/baptiste-hails-st-fort (http://trinidadexpress.com/20150828/sports/baptiste-hails-st-fort)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20at%20the%20IAAF%20World%20Youth%20Championships%20in%20Cali%20Colombia.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20at%20the%20IAAF%20World%20Youth%20Championships%20in%20Cali%20Colombia.jpg.html)
PLENTY POTENTIAL: Khalifa St Fort at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, last month. The Trinidad and Tobago sprinter earned silver in the girls’ 100 metres. —Photos: © Getty Images for IAAF.

BEIJING

The future of female sprinting in Trinidad and Tobago is in good hands.

A glimpse of what lies ahead was provided by Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Michelle-Lee Ahye in Monday's IAAF World Championship women's 100 metres final. There was a time, not long ago, when mere female representation at a major senior global meet was an achievement in itself. Now, for the first time, the country can boast of multiple finalists at the highest level.

Josanne Lucas was the first female T&T medallist at the IAAF World Championships, securing 400 metres hurdles bronze at the 2009 edition of the meet in Berlin, Germany. Baptiste followed up two years later, in Daegu, Korea with a medal of the same colour in the 100m dash.

And in 2015, Ahye joined Baptiste in the championship race, the T&T sprinters finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Baptiste told the Express she is confident the country can go one better at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and field three women in the century final.

“I really think it could be done. The way we are running right now, in order to make the team, you're going to have to step it up. With that in mind, if we have three women running sub-11, definitely three of us could be in the final.”

Baptiste is the national record holder in the women's 100m at 10.84 seconds, while Ahye is just behind with a 10.85 personal best. Next in the T&T pecking order is Semoy Hackett, whose fastest run in the event is 11.10. She was a 100m semi-finalist here in Beijing, and also reached the penultimate round in the 200m.

Though she is just 17, Khalifa St Fort is fourth fastest of the current crop of T&T sprinters at 11.19 seconds, the clocking she produced in capturing silver at last month's IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Under the guidance of quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon, St Fort lowered her personal best from 11.51 at the start of the 2015 season to 11.19.

Baptiste is very impressed with St Fort, and believes she has a bright future in the sport.

“I don't think she's good just because of the times, but I spent some time around Khalifa and she reminds me of myself. She's a little bit of a perfectionist. She likes to do everything perfect, she wants to get everything right.

“Even though that could be detrimental at times, it helped me to get where I was going because I was so stuck on doing everything right and having everything perfect. Khalifa's attitude is going to get her really far. She has already done great to be running 11.19 at 17 years old. That's a big accomplishment.”

St Fort, who followed up on World Youth silver with Pan American Junior Championship gold in 11.31 seconds, is part of T&T's women's 4x100m squad here in Beijing. Five of the six women in the relay pool are in the top ten on the all-time T&T performance list, and seven of the top ten are active sprinters.

Baptiste (10.84) and Ahye (10.85) are first and second, respectively, while Hackett (11.10) is fourth, just behind Angela Williams (11.09) who represented T&T in the 1980s and 90s. Another retired sprinter, Fana Ashby (11.12) is fifth. St Fort (11.19) is currently in sixth spot but, all things being equal, will surely be moving up.

Kai Selvon (11.21) is seventh. She is just 23 but had injury problems this season and is not at the World Championships. Selvon is expected to challenge for a spot on the T&T team for next year's Rio Olympics.

Reyare Thomas (11.22), who reached the 200m semi-finals at the 2015 World Champs, is joint eighth with Lou Ann Williams. Rounding off the top ten is Ayanna Hutchinson (11.26), who recently struck 100m gold at the World Masters Athletics Championships in France.

Baptiste said she is thrilled about the country's strength in depth.

“And now with Khalifa coming up, women's sprinting in Trinidad and Tobago is really stepping it up a notch. I'm excited for what the future has to offer. And it's good to know that whenever I decide to come out the sport there's always going to be others behind me who are running at a very elite level.”

Baptiste, Ahye, Hackett, St Fort, Thomas and Kamaria Durant are the women in the Beijing 2015 relay pool. At 12.08 this morning (TT time), T&T will run in the second of two heats. United States, Ukraine and Netherlands are three of their opponents in the race. Baptiste, Ahye, Thomas and St Fort, running in that order, are expected to be the four for the qualifying round, with Hackett coming in for St Fort if they advance to the final, scheduled for 8.45 this morning.

After press time, last night, T&T competed in the second of two men's 4x400m qualifying heats. The final is at 8.25 tomorrow (Sunday) morning.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on August 29, 2015, 11:57:36 AM

Socapro do not be quick to edit my post. Nothing is wrong with it.. We will have the same issues again

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on August 29, 2015, 02:42:26 PM

Quote from: Sando prince on August 29, 2015, 11:57:36 AM

Socapro do not be quick to edit my post. Nothing is wrong with it.. We will have the same issues again

You are really an attention seeker. I did not edit your above post.

You remind me of an old grumpy widow who has nothing else left to do in life but to complain about imaginary stuff that hasn't happened.

PS:
Next time you make another childish post begging for my attention I will delete your attention seeking post to really give you something to complain about.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Watch Khalifa St. Fort anchor T&T women's 4x100m relay team into finals:

USA 42.00, TTO 42.24Q, NED 42.32Q; Women 4x100m Heat 2 IAAF World Champs 2015
https://www.youtube.com/v/tKwSOv_btnM
Team TTO running order: Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Khalifa St.Fort

Legs assessment: Strong 1st leg from Baptiste; Strong 2nd leg from Ahye; Decent 3rd leg from Thomas but she needs to get up to speed quicker so that we don't lose any ground when collecting baton from Ahye in the Final; Good 4th leg from St.Fort and she will be even faster next year!

WCH 2015 Beijing - Team Trinidad and Tobago 4x100m Relay Women Heat 2
https://www.youtube.com/v/Fv090sA2hg4

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on August 30, 2015, 02:50:52 PM

https://www.youtube.com/v/wYYgPluQhAg#t=15

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: A.B. on September 02, 2015, 06:17:37 PM

Khalifa had immense support from TNT (and in here) despite her coach being a known troublemaker and deviant.

Khalifa St. Fort's 2015 season by the numbers:

100m PRs of 11.43, 11.39, 11.24, 11.19 (only 11.43 had a tailwind)

11.19 makes her #8 all-time under-18 100m

TnT junior 100m champion

TnT youth 100m record 11.19

World Youth 100m Silver

Pan Am Junior Games 100m Gold


Her Beijing 2015 World Championship bronze created significant history:

Part of the 1st female TTO relay medal at Worlds or Olympics ever
Youngest medalist at the 2015 World Championships
First and only US high school athlete to medal at Worlds
Youngest female sprint medalist in World Championship history

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on September 02, 2015, 07:06:29 PM

Nice one Ato, you are doing a great job.

We are looking for at least 3 of our TTO female sprinters to be in sub-11 form next year in time for Rio and possibly even 4 if both Khalifa and Semoy can go sub-11 to join KAB and MLA.

Btw I see that Team TTO is listed for the 4x100m Relay in Zurich tomorrow.
Link: http://zurich.diamondleague.com/en/timetable-entries/programme-2015/#contentTabFrame#/live/sports/at/at/js/mappings/disciplines/disciplineRoot#DisciplineInit#Zurich2015_TIMING_ATWA01101_json

Start list
4x100m Relay Women

Lane Name Nat
1 Switzerland U23 SUI
2 Norway NOR
3 Canada CAN
4 United States of America USA
5 Jamaica JAM
6 Switzerland SUI
7 Trinidad & Tobago TTO
8 Italy ITA

Seeing that you are one of our relay team coaches can you confirm if Khalifa in the TTO relay squad in Zurich?

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: andre samuel on September 03, 2015, 02:20:30 AM

Quote from: Sando prince on August 30, 2015, 02:50:52 PM

https://www.youtube.com/v/wYYgPluQhAg#t=15

Boom!!!!

Bess compilation!!

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: A.B. on September 03, 2015, 05:08:36 AM

Thanks.

That relay is news to me, I heard about it a few days ago. Not sure of the personnel there besides KAB.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on September 03, 2015, 05:31:21 AM

Quote from: A.B. on September 03, 2015, 05:08:36 AM

Thanks.

That relay is news to me, I heard about it a few days ago. Not sure of the personnel there besides KAB.

Well I know for sure that MLA, KAB and Reyare Thomas are all competing in the 100m at this Zurich DL Meet later today so I will assume that they are also going to be in the TTO 4x100m women's relay team.
I suspect that Semoy Hackett is the 4th person in the TTO 4x1 relay team which will mean it’s the same team which ran in the World Champs 4x1 Final and won bronze with the help of Khalifa in the 4x1 Heats.
Should be interesting to see how they match up against the USA and JA the 2nd time round within the same month. I think that team should be capable of a 42 flat clocking if they perform at their best.
Hopefully they can execute what you drilled them in while you were with them in Beijing.

Here are the links to their individual 100m DL races in Zurich today.

http://zurich.diamondleague.com/en/timetable-entries/programme-2015/#contentTabFrame#/live/sports/at/at/js/mappings/disciplines/disciplineRoot#DisciplineInit#Zurich2015_TIMING_ATWP01101_json

Start List
100m Women - Heat B

Lane Name Nat Date of Birth PB SB Result Rank
1 THOMAS Reyare TTO 23 NOV 1987 11.22 11.22
2 BINGHAM Khamica CAN 15 JUN 1994 11.13 11.13
3 STEWART Kerron JAM 16 APR 1984 10.75 11.17
4 PIERRE Barbara USA 28 APR 1987 10.85 10.92
5 THOMPSON Elaine JAM 28 JUN 1992 10.84 10.84
6 TARMOH Jeneba USA 27 SEP 1989 10.93 10.93
7 SIMPSON Sherone JAM 12 AUG 1984 10.82 10.95
8 OKPARAEBO Ezinne NOR 3 MAR 1988 11.10 11.12
9 EMMANUEL Crystal CAN 27 NOV 1991 11.27 11.27


http://zurich.diamondleague.com/en/timetable-entries/programme-2015/#contentTabFrame#/live/sports/at/at/js/mappings/disciplines/disciplineRoot#DisciplineInit#Zurich2015_TIMING_ATW001101_json

Start List
100m Women - Diamond race

Lane Name Nat Date of Birth PB SB Diamond Points Diamond Ranking Result Rank
1 MCGRONE Candyce USA 24 MAR 1989 11.00 11.00
2 BAPTISTE Kelly-Ann TTO 14 OCT 1986 10.83 10.84
3 AHYE Michelle-Lee TTO 10 APR 1992 10.85 10.97 1 5
4 FRASER-PRYCE Shelly-Ann JAM 27 DEC 1986 10.70 10.74 12 1
5 BOWIE Tori USA 27 AUG 1990 10.80 10.81 5 3
6 CAMPBELL-BROWN Veronica JAM 15 MAY 1982 10.76 10.89 2 4
7 OKAGBARE-IGHOTEGUONOR Blessing NGR 9 OCT 1988 10.79 10.80 8 2
8 KAMBUNDJI Mujinga SUI 17 JUN 1992 11.07 11.07
9 MORRISON Natasha JAM 17 NOV 1992 10.96 10.96 1 5

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on September 03, 2015, 07:17:08 AM

Quote from: A.B. on September 02, 2015, 06:17:37 PM

Khalifa had immense support from TNT (and in here) despite her coach being a known troublemaker and deviant.

Khalifa St. Fort's 2015 season by the numbers:

100m PRs of 11.43, 11.39, 11.24, 11.19 (only 11.43 had a tailwind)

11.19 makes her #8 all-time under-18 100m

TnT junior 100m champion

TnT youth 100m record 11.19

World Youth 100m Silver

Pan Am Junior Games 100m Gold


Her Beijing 2015 World Championship bronze created significant history:

Part of the 1st female TTO relay medal at Worlds or Olympics ever
Youngest medalist at the 2015 World Championships
First and only US high school athlete to medal at Worlds
Youngest female sprint medalist in World Championship history

I want to say Congrats to you for coaching the 4x100 team into a medal winning performance in Beijing  :beermug:

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on September 03, 2015, 08:09:27 AM

Congrats, Ato. You did a fine job with Miss Pepsodent Smile!!!

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on September 03, 2015, 03:42:26 PM

It appears the TT women came 3rd in the relay behind JA and U.S. Same team as the WC.

Title: Meet Khalifa St. Fort, First U.S. High Schooler To Medal At Senior Worlds
Post by: A.B. on September 07, 2015, 08:21:18 PM

Meet Khalifa St. Fort, First U.S. High Schooler To Medal At Senior Worlds (http://www.milesplit.com/articles/162090)
By JOHANNA GRETSCHEL (MileSplit.com)
Sep 7, 2015
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro065/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20celebrates%20victory%20in%20100m%20at%20Pan%20Am%20Junior%20Champs%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro065/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20celebrates%20victory%20in%20100m%20at%20Pan%20Am%20Junior%20Champs%202015.jpg.html)

The best "What I Did Over My Summer Vacation" essay at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida probably comes from Khalifa St. Fort. The senior represented Trinidad and Tobago in three separate international track and field championships over the summer break, highlighted by a bronze medal in the 4x100m at the senior level IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China. The 17-year-old is the youngest female sprinter in history to medal at a senior-level world championship and the first U.S.-based high schooler to do so. We caught up with the track star about adjusting to different time zones, competing against the pros and her plan for the fall. Oh, yeah, and she's a fan of the Quan.

Khalifa By The Numbers

CHAMPIONSHIP   LOCALE   EVENT   MEDAL
Pan-American Juniors   Edmonton, Canada   100m   Gold
IAAF World Youth   Cali, Colombia   100m   Silver
IAAF World Seniors   Beijing, China   4x100m Relay   Bronze
EVENT   PR
100m   11.19
200M   23.55 (+2.0)

MileSplit: You raced in three different international track events ­ the World Youth Championships, Pan­American Junior Championships and IAAF World Championships (senior level). What were the differences between each event and how did each prepare you for the next one?

Khalifa: The differences were at the Pan­American Jrs.and World Youth I was competing with athletes close to my age while at the World Championships I competed against all of my idols and all the professional athletes I look up to.

What was the biggest highlight of the summer for you?

The highlight of my summer was competing in the 4x100 for Trinidad & Tobago at the IAAF World Championships and receiving Bronze.

Describe the difference between the IAAF Worlds on the Youth and Senior levels. Did Youths prepare you for the senior Worlds?

Yes, World Youth did prepare me for the World Championships, the only difference was the age of the competitors and of course it was one of the biggest stages I had ever performed on.

How does it feel to be the youngest female sprint medalist in the history of Worlds?

It feels amazing and it is a humbling experience. I am happy I was able to contribute to the Trinidad & Tobago team.

How did it feel to break the Trinidad and Tobago national record?

It was an amazing experience I had so much fun. It was not unexpected but it was great to have competed with such a great group of athletes.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro065/TampT%204x100%20relay%20with%20khalifastfort%20on%20anchor%20leg%20sets%20new%20National%20Record%2042.24%20into%20Finals.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro065/TampT%204x100%20relay%20with%20khalifastfort%20on%20anchor%20leg%20sets%20new%20National%20Record%2042.24%20into%20Finals.jpg.html)

How much do you identify with Trinidad and Tobago? Do you see yourself trying out for the US national team one day?

I identify with the Trinidad and Tobago team extremely well and I do not see myself trying out for a US team. I love Trinidad and Tobago as well as my teammates.

What were the biggest differences in your everyday routine in Colombia and China as compared to the United States?

The biggest differences were not seeing my parents everyday and constantly being on the go.

What was the biggest surprise about Cali, Colombia/Edmonton, Canada/Beijing,China? Which city was your favorite?

My favorite was Beijing, China. I had amazing chemistry with my teammates and stayed in a hotel with all my idols.

What was the biggest challenge while competing abroad?

The biggest challenge was adjusting to the sleep schedules.

How was your first day of school? Can you describe your travel schedule back to the United States? Did you get any sleep?!

My first day of school was great. I landed 11:45 pm and had school the next morning and I surprisingly slept well. The traveling was not too bad because I slept through most of it.

What is the biggest adjustment for you as you return to school and the normal routine?

The biggest adjustment would have to be the sleeping. I am excited to be back at school and going back to my normal routine.

Where does your training go from here? Are you on a break?

Yes, as of now I am on a break and I will not resume training for a while. My coach believes in having the adequate amount of rest in order for me to progress next season.

You wrote that when you first began training with Ato, he said, 'you have to earn the right to run on the track' and you trained exclusively on the grass. What was the turnaround moment when you 'earned the right' to train on the track?

The turnaround moment was when my drills and form improved. When I fully accepted his philosophy, he decided, 'it is time for you to put it all together.'

What did that moment mean to you?

That moment meant a lot to me and I was very excited. Coach Ato made sure I understood that just because we moved to the track it did not mean my technique should change.

What are your thoughts on Candace Hill and her national record of 10.98 this year?

I think Candace Hill is a phenomenal athlete but an even better person. My encounters with her have always been positive and I was able to get to know her when we both attended the 2015 Nike Elite Camp.

You have already surpassed the Olympic standard for the 100m [11.32] with your PR of 11.19. Did you have any thoughts of competing at the senior level World Championships this summer? Why did you choose to compete at World Youth instead?

In Order for me to compete at the World Championships I had to run 11.33 or better. World Youth was always the plan and the World Championships was an added bonus.

Do you have any thoughts of turning professional before you graduate from high school?

I have not thought about it. My main focus is training next year for Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Trials, Rio 2016, as well as World Jrs.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro065/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20shows%20off%20silver%20medal%20from%20World%20Youth%20Champs%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro065/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20shows%20off%20silver%20medal%20from%20World%20Youth%20Champs%202015.jpg.html)

How does competing against strictly HS competition compare to racing against and with professionals?

HS athletes as well as professional athletes are all great competitors but racing against the professionals is a great learning experience. I was able to observe how the professional eat, warm­up, and go about their daily lives.

What are your goals for your senior year?

My goals for my senior year are to gain a 5.0 GPA at least for one quarter, Run sub 11 in the 100 meters, sub 23 in the 200, and qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Fun Stuff!

The Quan or the Nae Nae? The Quan

Weirdest foreign food you tried this summer: I kept my diet the same

Best part of being a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas: Hopefully getting an opportunity to run for my school for one more year

What colleges are you looking at? UCLA,USC,Brown and Stanford

If you could have dinner with any 3 people, dead or alive, who would you choose and why? Flo­ Jo because she was a phenomenal athlete that I never got the chance to meet, Shelly­-Ann Fraser­Pryce because of her great personality and Usain Bolt because he is the fastest man in the world.

Favorite athlete (of any sport): Shelly­-Ann Fraser­-Pryce

***
Johanna Gretschel can be reached at jojo@flosports.tv.

Click to view interview after World Champs with Khalifa: http://highschool.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=89&do=videos&video_id=154737

Click to view interview after World Champs with Ato: http://highschool.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=89&do=videos&video_id=154739

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on October 08, 2015, 09:40:57 PM

Ryan Bachoo talked to Ato Boldon about Khalifa St Fort

https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153687061432996/ (https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153687061432996/)

Title: Khalifa St. Fort Signs With UCLA!
Post by: Socapro on November 15, 2015, 04:45:24 PM

Khalifa St. Fort Signs With UCLA!
College Signing 2015-2016 (http://www.milesplit.com/articles/169121-khalifa-st-fort-signs-with-ucla)
By JOHANNA GRETSCHEL (MileSplit.com)
Nov 12, 2015
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro064/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20the%20nations%20top%20female%20sprint%20recruit%20in%20the%20Class%20of%202016%20signs%20with%20UCLA.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro064/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20the%20nations%20top%20female%20sprint%20recruit%20in%20the%20Class%20of%202016%20signs%20with%20UCLA.jpg.html)
Khalifa St. Fort right after signing for UCLA College 2015-2016

Khalifa St. Fort, the nation's top female sprint recruit in the Class of 2016, signed with UCLA on Thursday evening. The move comes under the thoughtful guidance of her coach, Ato Boldon, who is an alumnus of the program and four-time Olympic medal winner for Trinidad and Tobago.

She chose UCLA over USC, Brown and Stanford.

The Florida-based St. Fort also competes for Trinidad and Tobago. The 17-year-old became the youngest female sprinter in history and first U.S.-based high schooler to medal at the senior-level world championships this past summer when she earned a bronze medal for her efforts in the 4x100-meter trials this past summer at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China. St. Fort also won gold in the 100 meters at the Pan-American Junior Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Canada and silver at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, behind only national high school record holder Candace Hill. St. Fort ran her personal best of 11.19 in the finals in Colombia. Her personal best in the 200 meters is 23.50.

St. Fort's plans for 2016 include qualifying for the Olympic Games.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on November 16, 2015, 08:39:56 AM

That is a no brainer!!! Congrats, Blessings and all the Success.

Title: St Fort cop Youth Award
Post by: Sando prince on January 30, 2016, 09:24:12 PM

Khalifa St Fort wins First Citizens Youth Female athlete of the year

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160130/sports/thompson-st-fort-cop-youth-awards

Thompson, St Fort cop Youth Awards* (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160130/sports/thompson-st-fort-cop-youth-awards)
By Mark Pouchet, mark.pouchet@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Jan 30, 2016, 8:29 pm AST (T&T Express)

Top Junior female sprinter Khalifa St Fort and Carifta standout Jeron Thompson doubled up on their awards when they added the First Citizens Youth Female and Male awards respectively to their trophy cabinet.
Exactly one month ago, the pair collected the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Junior Female and Male awards at the TTOC’s end-of-year awards ceremony.

Friday night at the First Citizens Youth Awards at Hyatt Regency, they were again bestowed with the top junior awards after the 43 nominees had been whittled down to a field of the top 12 athletes.
St Fort (track and field) and Thompson (swimming) emerged from the group of 12 that included Tyler Cole and Kollyn St George (cycling), Sachin Kumar and Ysabelle Lawrence (golf), Christian Marsden and Amira Pilgrim (swimming), Gabrielle Wood (judo), Salisha Rahim (powerlifting) and Aaron Wilson (table tennis).

Title: Junior Sportswoman of the Year Khalifa St Fort aims for more in 2016
Post by: Socapro on February 22, 2016, 03:10:48 PM

‘Happy to represent Trinidad’
Junior Sportswoman of the Year Khalifa St Fort aims for more in 2016 (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160102/sports/8216happy-to-represent-trinidad8217)
By Sean Taylor, sean.taylor@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Jan 2, 2016, 7:47 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro085/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20receives%20TTOC%20Junior%20Sportswoman%20of%20Year%20Award%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro085/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20receives%20TTOC%20Junior%20Sportswoman%20of%20Year%20Award%202015.jpg.html)
Winning SMILE: Khalifa St Fort is elated after receiving her TTOC Sportswoman of the Year award on Tuesday evening, at the Port of Spain Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain.
The sprinter set a national record when she took silver at the IAAF World Youth Games, clocking 11.19 seconds. —Photo: Curtis Chase

Khalifa St Fort certainly enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2015, which culminated in her winning the 2015 Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Junior Sportswoman of the Year award, at a ceremony held at the Port of Spain Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain, last Tuesday.

The young sprinter who turns 18 in February, burst onto the scene this year when she captured silver at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, in July.

She streaked to an 11.19-second finish in the 100-metre final, which set a national Under-18 record in the process; a time which not only has turned heads locally but has raised hopes of her breaking into this year’s Olympic team.

The athlete who always sports a wide grin, said she had a lot of confidence coming into 2016, partic­ularly with local sprint legend Ato Boldon’s guidance.

“I 100 per cent have confidence in myself, as well as my coach and my parents,” she said. “They would not put me in any predicament that I cannot handle, and I feel that he (Boldon) has mentally and physically prepared me for every race.”

St Fort was elated to be able to represent T&T and was even more happy with her award.

“Winning this award tonight motivates me to do well in Rio 2016,” she said. “Last season was absolutely amazing, I had a great time and I’m very honoured to represent Tri­nidad and Tobago.”

The youngster, who was born in the US to a Trinidadian mother, intends to train hard in her push towards the Games in Rio de Janeiro this year.

“The plan is to train hard and to of course avoid injury, and just work hard so I can do well in trials so I can represent Trinidad in 2016 at the Rio Olympics.”

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on February 22, 2016, 05:30:35 PM

Congrats Khalifa!

Title: St Fort headlines Carifta trials
Post by: Socapro on March 04, 2016, 07:40:40 PM

St Fort headlines Carifta trials (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160303/sports/st-fort-headlines-carifta-trials)
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Mar 3, 2016, 6:52 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro101/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20Girls%20U-18%20100m%20at%20World%20Youth%20Champs%202015%2010.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro101/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20Girls%20U-18%20100m%20at%20World%20Youth%20Champs%202015%2010.jpg.html)
WORLD YOUTH SILVER MEDALLIST: Khalifa St Fort

Khalifa St Fort will be the headline act at this weekend's Carifta tri­als, at the Hasely Craw­ford Stadium, Port of Spain.

St Fort made a huge impact in 2015, earning the 100-metres silver at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. The meet was the US-born sprinter's first in Trinidad and Tobago colours. She followed up with the 100m gold at the Pan Ameri­can Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada.

At the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, St Fort held her own among the se­niors, the Florida-based teenager anchoring the T&T women's 4x100m team to second spot in their qualifying heat, in a national record time of 42.24 seconds. St Fort made way for Semoy Hackett in the final. T&T finished third in the championship race in 42.03 seconds, impro­ving on the national record, and St Fort was presented with a bronze medal for her role in the qualifying race.

St Fort is coached by quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon. Another US-born sprin­ter in the Boldon camp, Sarah Wollaston, is also expected to compete at the Carifta trials. Like St Fort, Wollaston's mother is Trinidadian.

Akanni Hislop, who captured the Boys Under-18 200m gold and 100m silver at last year's Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis, will be on show this weekend in the Under-20 sprints.

Also seeing action at the Crawford Stadium will be reigning Carifta champions Andwuelle Wright, Tyriq Horsford and Isaiah Taylor. Wright is hoping to make a successful defence of his Boys Under-20 long jump title. Horsford will bid to repeat as the Boys Under-18 javelin champion. And Taylor, who captured the Boys Under-18 shot put gold last year, steps up to the Under-20 age group.

Featuring at the trials as well will be quarter-miler Jacob St Clair, hurdler Jeminise Parris, jumpers Che Richards and Clement Campbell, and throwers Chelsea James and Akidah Briggs.

Athletes from Curacao, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines will also be in action on the weekend.

The trials will be contested from 10 a.m. tomorrow and Sunday.

Title: St Fort steals show …among 21 day 1 Carifta qualifiers
Post by: Socapro on March 06, 2016, 08:39:49 PM

St Fort steals show*
…among 21 day 1 Carifta qualifiers (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160305/sports/st-fort-steals-show)
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Mar 5, 2016, 8:58 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro108/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20%20on%20her%20way%20to%20winning%20G%20U20%20100m%20Final%20at%20TT%20CARIFTA%20Trials%202016.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro108/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20%20on%20her%20way%20to%20winning%20G%20U20%20100m%20Final%20at%20TT%20CARIFTA%20Trials%202016.jpg.html)
Khalifa St Fort (centre) on her way to winning Girls U20 100m Final at TT CARIFTA Trials 2016;
St Fort's training pardner, Sarah Wollaston (first from left) placed second in 12.04 seconds and third spot went to Jada Barker (second from left) in 12.08. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE

Khalifa St Fort was the star of the show on day one of the Carifta trials, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday.

St Fort produced a sizzling run in the girls’ under-20 100 metres final, stopping the clock at 11.39 seconds, well inside the 11.80 qualifying standard. The 2.2 metres per second following wind was just above the 2.0 legal limit.

By the time St Fort came up from her drive phase, the race was over as a contest, the American-born sprinter powering to the easiest of victories. Sarah Wollaston, who trains with St Fort in Florida, USA, finished a distant second in 12.04 seconds, while third spot went to Jada Barker (12.08).

St Fort drew attention off the track as well. After crossing the finish line, the 2015 World Youth Championship 100m silver medallist somehow ended up in the Crawford Stadium moat. Her coach, quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon rushed over to attend to his young charge. But fears were allayed, the 18-year-old athlete emerging with her broad trademark smile intact.

Earlier in the afternoon, St Fort, running into a 1.7 headwind, won her qualifying heat in 11.79 seconds.
There were 24 qualifying performances yesterday from 21 athletes.

Like St Fort, Tyrell Edwards repeated his qualifying performance, the young sprinter bettering the 10.85 seconds boys’ under-18 100m standard in all three rounds. In the final, though, he had to settle for the runner-up spot, behind an impressive Adell Colthrust.

As he crossed the line, an exultant Colthrust looked across at his well beaten rivals. His 10.64 seconds run, with a 2.1 wind at his back, gave Colthrust the win, ahead of Edwards (10.75) and Avindale Smith (10.81).

There were also qualifying performances yesterday from Renee Stoddard in the girls’ under-20 400m (55.30) and Onal Mitchell in the boys’ under-18 400m (48.62).

Omari Benoit was among four jumpers who attained qualifying standards. He cleared the bar at 2.00 metres for top spot in the boys’ under-20 high jump.

Asha James led the way in the throws. Winner of the girls’ under-18 javelin with a 43.59m effort, James was one of five throwers making the Carifta grade.

And Jeminise Parris was among three qualifying hurdlers. She bolted to the line in the girls’ under-20 100m hurdles in a wind-assisted 13.92 seconds.

Carifta trials continue from 10am today at the Crawford Stadium.

DAY 1 QUALIFIERS (21 athletes, 24 performances)

Boys’ under-20 high jump (2.00m)
Omari Benoit (Falcons) — 2.00m

Girls’ under-20 100m (11.80)
Khalifa St Fort (unattached)—11.39 (wind: +2.2), final
Khalifa St Fort (unattached) — 11.79 (wind: -1.7), semis

Girls’ under-20 400m (55.30)
Renee Stoddard (Speed Factory) — 55.30

Girls’ under-20 100m hurdles (14.60)
Jeminise Parris (Memphis Pioneers) — 13.92 (wind: +2.9)

Girls’ under-20 discus (40.00m)
Shaiann Charles (D’Abadie Progressive) — 41.70m
Chelsea James (Falcons) — 40.93m

Boys’ under-18 100m (10.85)
Adell Colthrust (Abilene) — 10.64 (wind: +2.1), final
Tyrell Edwards (Toco Titans) — 10.75 (wind: +2.1), final
Avindale Smith (Abilene) — 10.81 (wind: +2.1), final
Ako Hislop (Kaizen Panthers) — 10.82 (wind: +2.1), final
Tyrell Edwards (Toco Titans) — 10.80 (wind: +2.0), semis
Tyrell Edwards (Toco Titans) — 10.82 (wind: +1.6), round 1

Boys’ under-18 400m (48.90)
Onal Mitchell (Point Fortin New Jets)—48.62

Boys under-18 long jump (6.80m)
Josiah Edwards (Abilene) — 6.97m (wind: +3.0)
Aaron Cruickshank (D’Abadie Progressive) — 6.88m (wind: +1.2)
Clement Campbell (Memphis Pioneers) — 6.87m (wind: +2.1)

Boys’ under-18 shot put (15.20m)
Konnel Jacob (Jaguars) — 15.23m

Girls’ under-18 100m (12.00)
Jenea Spinks (Concorde) — 11.98 (wind: -1.7), final
Akilah Lewis (Concorde) — 11.83 (wind: +1.8 ), semis

Girls’ under-18 100m hurdles (14.70)
Anya Akili (Kaizen Panthers) — 14.50 (wind: +2.9)
Cheziah Phillip (Toco Titans) — 14.52 (wind: +2.9)

Girls’ under-18 shot put (13.50m)
Ianna Roach (Memphis Pioneers) — 14.13m

Girls’ under-18 javelin (40.00m)
Asha James (Zenith) — 43.59m

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro108/Onal%20Mitchell%20second%20from%20right%20en%20route%20to%20victory%20in%20Boys%20Under-18%20400%20metres%20final%20at%20TT%20CARIFTA%20Trials%202016.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro108/Onal%20Mitchell%20second%20from%20right%20en%20route%20to%20victory%20in%20Boys%20Under-18%20400%20metres%20final%20at%20TT%20CARIFTA%20Trials%202016.jpg.html)
MITCHELL BAGS ONE-LAP GOLD: Onal Mitchell, second from right, en route to victory in the Boys Under-18 400 metres final, on day one of the Carifta trials, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday. Mitchell clocked 48.62 seconds. Jaden St Louis, left, Joshua Joseph, second from left, and Jahi Hernandez, right, finished eighth, sixth and fourth, respectively. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE

Title: St. Fort clocks 11.39/23.54, Horsford's 71.52 light up T&T Carifta Trials
Post by: Socapro on March 07, 2016, 07:52:39 PM

St. Fort clocks 11.39/23.54, Horsford's 71.52 light up T&T Carifta Trials (http://www.trackalerts.com/Articles/st-fort-clocks-11-39-23-54-horsfords-71-52-light-up-t-t-carifta-trials/15062/)
March 7th, 2016 8:32am (TrackAlerts.com)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro113/Tyriq%20Horsford%20Zenith%201st%20with%2071.52%20amp%20Khalifa%20St%20Fort%2011.39%20at%20TT%20Carifta%20Trials%202016.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro113/Tyriq%20Horsford%20Zenith%201st%20with%2071.52%20amp%20Khalifa%20St%20Fort%2011.39%20at%20TT%20Carifta%20Trials%202016.jpg.html)
Tyriq Horsford (Zenith) 1st with 71.52 & Khalifa St Fort 11.39/23.54 at T&T Carifta Trials 2016

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - World Youth 100m silver/World 4x100m bronze medallist, Khalifa St. Fort was one of the outstanding performers at the NGC/T&T NAAA Carifta Trials at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurpapo on March 5 & 6.

Competing unattached, St. Fort cruised to victories in the girls under 20 100m (11.39w) and 200m (23.64), crushing the field in both sprints. In the 100m on the first day (March 5), the 18 year old pulled away from her opponents to win by over five metres and dipped below the qualifying standard of 11.80 for the event on the first day of competition (11.79/-1.7 in the heats).

The 2015 Pan American Juniors sprint queen then returned on Sunday (March 6) to secure the 200m on a wet track following early afternoon rains. Her 23.64 was under the Carifta standard of 24.00. St. Fort is expected  to be in T&T’s contingent for this year’s Carifta Games, set for St. Georges, Grenada from March 26 to 28.

Reigning Carifta champion and record holder Tyriq Horsford (Zenith) stole the spotlight on the second day with his national youth record throw of 71.52m in capturing the boys under 18 javelin crown on Sunday (March 6) morning. Horsford improved on his previous national mark of 70.73 set in winning last year’s Carifta title in St. Kitts/Nevis. So dominant was Horsford that all six of his throws (68.66, 56.12, 71.52, 68.92, 60.89 and 66.42)  could have won him the title and were superior to the Carifta standard of 59.00.

Horsford’s Zenith club mates also impressed in the javelin events taking three of the four titles, producing all four of the Carifta qualifiers in the discpline. Vandel Joseph took home the boys under 20 honours with a distance of 59.31 and had four other marks over the 57.00m standard. The 2015 Carifta boys under 18 bronze medallist beat his training partner, Odel Joefield who also got over the standard with 58.31.

Asha James clinched the girls under 18 javelin spot on the team on the opening morning of action (March 5) with a mark of 43.59 to surpass the 40.00 standard. She will be hoping to improve on her silver medal achieved in the discipline in 2015. James led a Zenith sweep of the event as Talena Murray (38.81) and Kymoi Noray (35.15) took second and third.
 
Tobago athletes excelled in the throws taking nine of the twelve throwing titles on offer. Konnel Jacob (Tobago Jaguars) and Clarence Hannibal (Tobago Falcons) finished 1-2 in boys under 18 shot put and discus. Jacob won the shot with a distance of 15.23 (standard-15.20) ahead of Hannibal (15.13) but Hannibal reversed the positions in discus taking the top spot with 47.29 (standard-44.30) to Jacob’s 40.20. Triple Carifta champion Chelsea James (Tobago Falcons) landed the girls under 20 shot put with a mark of 14.09 (standard-13.50). James was also second in the discus with 40.93 behind Shaiann Charles (D’Abadie Progressive) 41.70 as both were over the 40.00 qualifying mark.

Another Tobagonian, Nkosi James, competing for the University of the West Indies, secured the boys under 20 discus with a hurl of 41.71 (standard-47.00) and was also second in the shot put (13.62) behind last year’s Carifta boys under 18 winner and record holder Isaiah Taylor (Abilene Wildcats), 15.26.

On the track, another of Zenith’s defending Carifta champions, Akanni Hislop won the boys under-20 200m in a wind aided 21.09 (3.0m/s) after running a strong bend.

Cougars secured the top two spots in the boys and girls under 18 800m. Jaden St. Louis took the junior boys two-lap final in 1:59.54 ahead of teammate, Recardo Prescott, 1:59.76. The two will make the trip to Carifta, as Prescott ran 1:57.85 in the heats earlier in the day to ensure that the pair dipped under the 1:59.60 standard. In the girls under 18 Kershell McIntyre took gold in 2:15.77 to cross the line inside the 2:16.00 standard. The 1500m winner was pushed all the way by teammate, Joanna Rogers, who narrowly missed qualifying with her time of 2:16.51.

The girls open heptathlon proved the be the most competitive event at the two day trials, as the lead kept changing at the completion of almost each individual event.

Ayana Glasgow (Toco TAFAC) headed the standings, going into the seventh and final event, the 800m, but with her cellar place in the two lapper, could not hold on to the advantage, and eventually finished in third position. Anya Akili (Kaizen Panthers) took the 800m and overall title with 4272 points ahead of early event leader Antonia Sealey (Pt. Fortin New Jets) 4207 and Glasgow (4272). All six finishing competitors were above the 3500 points standard. Only two will be selected to compete in Grenada.

Anya Akili also qualified for the girls under 18 100m hurdles clocking 14.50 to edge out Cheziah Phillip (Toco Titans) 14.52, as the two bettered than the 14.70 standard.

In the boys open Octathlon, Ian West maintained his overnight lead and went on to claim the top honours with 5280 ahead of Kerlon Ashby (Kaizen Panthers) 4841 and Michael McKenzie (Alpha) 4748 and Aaron Caesar (Pt. Fortin New Jets) 4591, as the top four scored over the 4500 points standard.

The boys under 18 and 20 100m produced contrasting finishes as Adell Colthrust (Abilene Wildcats) showed a welcome return to form to secure the first-named sprint crown. A sprint phenom in his juvenile days, he won in 10.64 by more than 1/10 of a second. He also led four boys under the 10.85 qualifying time. Tyrel Edwards (Toco Titans) was second in 10.75 to record his third sub 10.85 clocking of the day, after posting the fastest times in the heats (10.82) and semifinals (10.80). Avindale Smith, also of Abilene Wildcats, copped third (10.81 ahead of Ako Hislop (Kaizen Panthers) 10.82. In contrast, in the senior boys 100m 0.04 seconds separated the top four in a blanket finish.  Jalen Purcell (Simplex) got the nod for the victory in 10.67, with Chad Richards (ZC Athletics), 10.68, Xavier Mulgata (Memphis Pioneers) 10.69 and McNish Compton of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 10.71 all followed closely behind. The quartet narrowly missed getting under the 10.65 standard.

Jenea Spinks and Concorde training partner Akidal Lewis took the top two spots in the girls under 18 100m (standard-12.00). In the finals, Spinks was first to the line in 11.98 ahead of Lewis (12.05). Lewis had earlier run 11.83 in the semis.

Title: Vote for Khalifa St. Fort for HS performance of the week
Post by: Socapro on March 09, 2016, 02:44:03 AM

Vote for Khalifa St. Fort for HS performance of the week.
 
Her opening races at both sprint distances were national leaders...

Click link to go to voting page: http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=402229

Title: St Fort leads Carifta charge*
Post by: Socapro on March 10, 2016, 03:42:23 AM

St Fort leads Carifta charge* (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160309/sports/st-fort-leads-carifta-charge)
By Kwame Laurence, kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Mar 9, 2016, 8:25 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro121/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20left%20powers%20to%20victory%20in%20girlsrsquo%20under-20%20200%20metres%20final%20on%20day%20two%20of%20TT%20Carifta%20trials%202016.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro121/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20left%20powers%20to%20victory%20in%20girlsrsquo%20under-20%20200%20metres%20final%20on%20day%20two%20of%20TT%20Carifta%20trials%202016.jpg.html)
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Khalifa St Fort, left, powers to victory in the girls’ under-20 200 metres final, on day two of the Carifta trials, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Sunday. St Fort clocked 23.64 seconds in the half-lap final to complete the sprint double. —Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY

Khalifa St Fort will lead the charge for Trinidad and Tobago at the March 26-28 Carifta Games, in Grenada. The 2015 World Youth Championship girls’ 100 metres silver medallist is among 42 athletes selected for national duty on Easter weekend.

St Fort captured the Girls Under-20 sprint double at the Carifta trials, held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on the weekend.

The Florida-based sprinter is expected to face the starter in both the 100m and 200m events in Grenada. St Fort’s training partner, Sarah Wollaston is listed for the Under-20 100m at Carifta 2016. St Fort and Wollaston will also be on show in the 4x100m relay.

Tyriq Horsford will defend his boys’ under-18 javelin title in Grenada. On the weekend, he threw 71.52 metres to better the 70.73m national youth record he had established in winning gold at the 2015 Carifta Games. That 70.73m throw is also a Carifta Games record, and the 16-year-old Tobago thrower would be looking to improve on the regional standard when he competes at the 2016 edition of the regional junior championships.

Akanni Hislop captured the Carifta Games boys’ under-18 200m title in 2015, but is stepping up to the under-20 age-group this year. He is the lone boys’ under-20 sprinter selected.

Also on the T&T team are sprinters Adell Colthrust and Tyrell Edwards, long jumper Che Richards, hurdler Jeminise Parris, and thrower Chelsea James.

All athletes, their parents and team officials are asked to attend an important meeting tomorrow (Friday), at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Starting time is 4pm. Athletes must walk with their passports and two passport photos.

TEAM T&T

Boys under-20—Akanni Hislop (200), Omari Benoit (high jump), Che Richards (long jump), Vandel Joseph (javelin), Odell Joefield (javelin), Ian West (octathlon), Kerlon Ashby (octathlon)

Girls under-20—Khalifa St Fort (100, 200, 4x100), Sarah Wollaston (100, 4x100), Renee Stoddard (200, 400, 4x100), Jeminise Parris (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 4x100), Chelsea James (shot put, discus), Shaiann Charles (discus), Antonia Sealy (heptathlon), Jada Barker (4x100)

Boys under-18—Adell Colthrust (100, 4x100), Tyrell Edwards (100, 200, 4x100), Onal Mitchell (400, 4x400), Che Lara (400, 4x400), Jaden St Louis (800, 4x400), Recardo Prescott (800, 4x400), Ako Hislop (110 hurdles, 4x100), Franklyn Stanislaus (high jump, 4x400), Aaron Cruickshank (high jump, long jump), Josiah Edwards (long jump), Clement Campbell (triple jump, 4x100), Konnel Jacob (shot put), Clarence Hannibal (shot put, discus), Tyriq Horsford (javelin), Avindale Smith (4x100)

Girls under-18—Jenea Spinks (100, 4x100), Akilah Lewis (100, 200, 4x100), Ayla Stanisclaus (200, 4x100), Kershel McIntyre (800, 1500), Joanna Rogers (800), Anya Akili (100 hurdles, heptathlon), Cheziah Phillip (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles), Safiya John (high jump, long jump), Ianna Roach (shot put), Asha James (javelin), Akeera Esdelle (4x100), Shania McCarter (4x100)

Officials—Dexter Voisin (manager), Lucretia Warner-Burns (assistant manager/chaperone), Lester Osouna (head coach), Eric McCree (sprints & hurdles coach), Martin Prime (sprints & hurdles coach), Kelvin Nancoo (middle & distance coach), Wendell Williams (jumps coach), Michelle Pennie (jumps coach), Franklyn Wade (throws coach), Nadine Hamid (throws coach), Arlon Morrison (multi-events coach)
Medical staff—Anyl Gopeesingh, Zephyrinus Nicholas, Shurlan Bonas, Angel Ottley

Title: St. Fort named in T&T team for Carifta Games
Post by: Socapro on March 10, 2016, 04:17:03 AM

St. Fort named in T&T team for Carifta Games (http://www.trackalerts.com/Articles/st-fort-named-in-t-t-team-for-carifta-games/15069/)
March 9th, 2016 9:19am (TrackAlerts.com)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro121/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20Girls%20U-18%20100m%20at%20World%20Youth%20Champs%202015%2005%20resize.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro121/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20Girls%20U-18%20100m%20at%20World%20Youth%20Champs%202015%2005%20resize.jpg.html)
2015 World Youth silver medalist Khalifa St Fort (centre) leads T&T 2016 Carifta Team

After a hard fought weekend of performances forty-two (42) athletes and fifteen (15) officials have been selected to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the 45th Carifta Games to be held in St. George’s Grenada from Saturday 26th to Monday 28th March, at the newly refurbished National Stadium.

The athletes will be competing at Under 18 and Under 20 age groups. These age groups are similar to the global competitions such as the World Youth (Under 18) and World Junior (Under 20).

Tyriq Horsford will be returning to defend his gold medal and record-breaking performance from last year, in the Javelin Throw in the boys under-18, while Akanni Hislop who also won gold last year in the boys under-18, 200m dash will be trying to repeat that feat, but this year he will be competing in the boys under-20.

Pan Am Junior 100m Gold; World Youth 100m Silver; World 4x100m bronze medalist, Khalifa St. Fort will be competing at her first Carifta Games and would be leading the charge amongst the girls on their quest for precious metal. St Fort will be competing in the 100m, 200m and 4X100m relay.

The Athletes, parents and Officials are invited to a team meeting at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium at 4:00 pm. on Friday 11th March. Athletes are asked to walk with their passports and two passport photos.

T&T CARIFTA TEAM 2016
 
SURNAME   FIRST NAME   MIDDLE NAME   Gender   Event(s)   

Boys U 18   
1   Colthrust   Adell       M   100M, 4X100M   
2   Edwards   Tyrell   Kyel   M   100M, 200M, 4X100M   
3   Hislop   Ako   Jelani   M   110M HUR, 4X100M   
4   Mitchell   Onal       M   400M, 4X400M   
5   Lara   Che       M   400M, 4X400M   
6   Smith   Avindale           4X100M   
7   Campbell   Clement   Christian   M   4X100M, TJ   
8   St. Louis   Jaden       M   800M, 4X400M   
9   Prescott   Recardo       M   800M, 4X400M   
10   Stanislaus   Franklyn   Emmanuel   M   4X400M, HJ   
11   Edwards   Josiah       M   LJ   
12   Cruickshank   Aaron       M   LJ, HJ   
13   Jacob   Konnel       M   SHOT   
14   Horsford   Tyriq   Dave   M   JAVELIN   
15   Hannibal   Clarence       M   SHOT, DISCUS   

Girls U 18   
1   Spinks   Janea       F   100M, 4X100M   
2   Lewis   Akila       F   100M, 200M, 4X100M   
3   Stanisclaus   Ayla       F   200M, 4X100M   
4   Akili   Anya   Linda   F   100M HUR, HEP GIRLS   
5   Phillip   Cheziah   Veronica Keturah   F   100M HUR, 400M HUR   
6   Esdelle   Akeera   Keyana   F   4X100M   
7   Mc Carter   Shania       F   4X100M   
8   Mc. Intyre   Kershel   Jayann Kerna Kernika   F   800M, 1500M   
9   Rogers   Joanna       F   800M   
10   Roach   Ianna   Moniq   F   SHOT   
11   James   Asha   Jazsmine   F   JAVELIN   
12   John   Safiya   Chevelle   F   LJ, HJ   

Boys U 20   
1   Hislop   Akanni   Chike   M   200M   
2   Richards   Che   Ti-Shawn   M   LJ   
3   Benoit   Omari   John   M   HJ   
4   Joseph   Vandel   Christon   M   JAVELIN   
5   Joefield   Odell       M   JAVELIN   
6   West   Ian   Patrick   M   OCT   
7   Ashby   Kerlon       M   OCT   

Girls U 20   
1   St. Fort   Khalifa       F   100M, 200M, 4X100M   
2   Stoddard   Renee   Romalda   F   200M, 4X100M, 400M   
3   Parris   Jeminise   Sade   F   100M HUR, 400M HUR, 4x100m   
4   Wollaston   Sarah   Taylor   F   100M, 4x100M   
5   Barker   Jada       F   4X100M   
6   James   Chelsea   Philicia   F   SHOT, DISCUS   
7   Charles   Shaiann   Alysha   F   DISCUS   
8   Sealey   Antonia       F   HEP GIRLS   

Officials   
1   Voisin   Dexter   Colman   M   Manager   
2   Warner-Burns   Lucretia   Bernadette   F   Assist Manager/Chaperon   
3   Osouna   Lester       M   Head Coach   
4   Mc Cree   Eric       M   Sprints & Hurdles Coach   
5   Prime   Martin       M   Sprints & Hurdles Coach   
6   Nancoo   Kelvin   Charles   M   M & D   
7   Franklyn   Wade   Kernny Gregory   M   Throws Coach   
8   Hamid   Nadine   Sandra   F   Throws Coach   
9   Williams   Wendell   Peter   M   Jumps Coach   
10   Pennie   Michelle       F   Jumps Coach   
11   Morrison   Arlon   Kelson   M   Multi-Events   
12   Gopeesingh   Anyl       M   Medical   
13   Nicholas   Zephyrinus       M   Medical   
14   Bonas   Shurlan   Clement   M   Medical   
15   Ottley   Angel       F   Medical

Title: Ato posted this message on his facebook page
Post by: Socapro on March 10, 2016, 04:21:42 AM

Ato posted this message on his facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154046435765152)

You're looking at the entire #TTO Carifta under-20 100m team. Both @ya_gurl_sarah and @khalifa_stfort have been selected to represent #TrinidadandTobago at 100m and 4x100 (Khalifa will do the 200m as well) in this month's #Carifta games after their 1-2 finish at Trials last weekend. @cityofmiramar #proudcoach

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro107/Ato%20Boldon%20centre%20poses%20with%20his%20athletes%202015%20World%20Youth%20silver%20medallist%20Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20right%20and%20Sarah%20Wollaston%20left%20who%20both%20run%20in%20Girls%20U20%20100m%20at%20TT%20Carifta%20Trials%202016.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro107/Ato%20Boldon%20centre%20poses%20with%20his%20athletes%202015%20World%20Youth%20silver%20medallist%20Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20right%20and%20Sarah%20Wollaston%20left%20who%20both%20run%20in%20Girls%20U20%20100m%20at%20TT%20Carifta%20Trials%202016.jpg.html)
Ato Boldon (centre) posing with two of his Born2DoIt athletes; 2015 World Youth silver medallist Khalifa St Fort (right) and Sarah Wollaston (left) who did 1-2 in Girls U20 100m at TT Carifta Trials.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Aviator on March 23, 2016, 05:15:00 PM

Ahem...Ahem. Mr Boldon yuh pull ah fass one ;D. I swear she was just signing an acceptance letter to UCLA.....

http://www.milesplit.com/articles/178367-khalifa-st-fort-turns-pro-

*NOTE* click on link to see the  video interview.

Khalifa St. Fort Turns Pro!
 
Johanna Gretschel
Mar 23, 2016



Khalifa St. Fort of Florida told FLrunners.com on Wednesday afternoon that she will forego the rest of her high school eligibility to accept an endorsement deal with the Caribbean-based Flow Communications.

The former UCLA commit is the Pan-American Junior Champion and World Youth Championships silver medalist for 100m. She owns PRs of 11.19 for 100m, which ranks No. 8 All-Time for athletes under 18 years old, and 23.5 for 200m. St. Fort has competed unattached from her high school, St. Thomas Aquinas, for the past year and trains exclusively with Ato Boldon, an Olympian and NBC analyst.

"Today has been an amazing day. I get to start the new part of my career as a pro and I'm so happy," she said in a video interview submitted by Boldon to FLrunners.com.

The announcement comes on the eve of the CARIFTA Games this weekend, where St. Fort will represent Trinidad and Tobago. She won a bronze medal at the senior level IAAF World Championships last summer for the island nation, per her efforts on the 4x100-meter relay. St. Fort will travel to Grenada for the meet this weekend, where she will contest the 100m and 200m.

"She's doing it before CARIFTA because they have a huge campaign coming for the CARIFTA Games and the Olympics," Boldon told Todd Grasley of FLrunners.com. "This starts the Khalifa brand moving. Win or lose CARIFTA, it's a win for her. Her value is in her brand, not just a race."

St. Fort is not working with an agent and Boldon will serve as her advisor for the time being. She is not currently sponsored by a shoe company.

St. Fort's American professional debut will come next weekend at the Texas Relays in Austin. She will race the 100m.

"My thoughts are to train harder, work harder and do everything I can to put myself in a good position to be on the biggest stage in the world," she said.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on March 23, 2016, 07:05:58 PM

Was not expecting this!!!

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: A.B. on March 24, 2016, 09:49:24 PM

If it's been done before I'm not interested. This is the move to be made. Time is right and Flow has been amazing in their vision for Brand Khalifa. This is my vision for her. Not a sprinter or just an athlete when this is all said and done.

You know how if you ask the public to name TNT sporting legends, you'd say Lara, Yorke, Crawford and others, but no females would be named? (Jean Pierre, maybe if the person was over 40). That's where I want her.

My favorite comments to this news seen online, with my responses:

1. What about college?
Answer - What about it? Some rule that you have to run for a college to attend one? Khalifa has a 4.9 GPA. Clearly school is taken seriously in that household.

2. She's only run 11.19 and 23.50! Why's she pro-material??
Answer - If an athlete's value is only fast times, you've lost already. That's most of the problem in this industry. Complete athletes don't rely on just competitive results.

3. Why now?
Answer - Because you don't change the game by doing what everyone else does. It will make sense in July when you see what else is coming. Everyone does it backwards. Shoe company first. They should be last. Always. No rush to sign any shoe deals.

4. Everyone is going pro and missing the college/team experience.
Answer - Can't speak for "everyone" but I had the college experience. Undefeated for 2 years. NCAA record/champion. It's great. NOT as good as total control of your life, career and financial future - at 18. Khalifa has a track team she loves already.

5. This is not going to end well.
Answer - Watch. The last person that said that said Khalifa "wasn't that good". She'll haunt him for at least the next 15 years

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on March 24, 2016, 09:57:59 PM

Ok, Breds. God Speed!! Wish Ms. Pepsodent smile all the best. Actually Ato you and the agent should engage the advertisers about putting her face in TT with Pepsodent. All the best !!!!

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on March 25, 2016, 11:21:33 AM

WATCH VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/csportslive/videos/1132234650161499/

"Khalifa St Fort has turned Pro. Confirming this was Khalifa's coach, Ato Boldon, after she was unveiled as the first ever Brand Ambassador for FLOW. The announcement was made today at TTOC House in Port of Spain. Naasira Mohammed was there and files this report."

Title: St Fort named Flow Brand Ambassador
Post by: Socapro on March 27, 2016, 08:51:21 AM

St Fort named Flow Brand Ambassador (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,225686.html)
Thursday, March 24 2016 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20first%20ever%20brand%20ambassador%20for%20Flow%20TT%20pose%20with%20her%20coach%20Ato%20Boldon%20and%20Brian%20Collins%20Managing%20Director%20of%20Flow%20Trinidad%20after%20the%20big%20announcement.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20first%20ever%20brand%20ambassador%20for%20Flow%20TT%20pose%20with%20her%20coach%20Ato%20Boldon%20and%20Brian%20Collins%20Managing%20Director%20of%20Flow%20Trinidad%20after%20the%20big%20announcement.jpg.html)
Khalifa St Fort first ever brand ambassador for Flow TT pose with her coach, Ato Boldon and Brian Collins, Managing Director of Flow Trinidad after the big announcement

FLOW TRINIDAD revealed yesterday, at a media conference, that they entered into an arrangement with teenaged track and field athlete and Olympic hopeful Khalifa St Fort, making her the first brand ambassador for the telecommunications company in Trinidad and Tobago.

The announcement was made at the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTO C) office in Port of Spain and was attended by TTO C management, St Fort and her coach Ato Boldon. The pair were in Trinidad to meet the rest of the national team that will be competing at the Flow CARIFTA Games which takes place in Grenada from Saturday until Monday. Flow Managing Director, Brian Collins, praised St.

Fort, who won gold in the 100 metres at the 2015 Pan American Junior Championships and took silver in the same event at the 2015 World Youth Championship.

He said, “Khalifa embodies many of the positive attributes of Flow. She’s young and we consider ourselves a youthful brand. Just as we have been spreading our wings, over the past two years, Khalifa has been finding her stride as an athlete.

We believe that she’s a great example for young people, particularly for young women and we’re excited to be supporting her as her career develops and we look forward to building this partnership successfully in the years to come.” The 18-yearold American-born St Fort is coached by Boldon, a four-time Olympic medallist, and she competes in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay sprints.

Through his mentorship, she has increased her race times from 12.3 to 11.5 seconds in the 100m, making her one of the top ranked sprinters for her age group internationally. Following her success last year she was named TTO C Junior Sports Woman of the Year and First Citizens Sports Foundation Junior Sportswoman of the Year.

(TTOC)

Title: Boldon: St Fort ready to rule
Post by: Socapro on March 27, 2016, 09:23:20 AM

Boldon: St Fort ready to rule (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2016-03-26/boldon-st-fort-ready-rule)
By Sean Nero (T&T Guardian)
Published: Saturday, March 26, 2016
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro065/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20celebrates%20victory%20in%20100m%20at%20Pan%20Am%20Junior%20Champs%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro065/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20celebrates%20victory%20in%20100m%20at%20Pan%20Am%20Junior%20Champs%202015.jpg.html)
T&T rising sprinting star Khalifa St Fort.

Four-time Olympic medallists and coach of sprinter Khalifa St Fort, Ato Boldon, is convinced she is ready to take on the Caribbean’s best at today’s start of the 2016 Carifta Games in Grenada.

Citing the work they had put in and her consistency on the track, it was now up to the young athlete to decide how badly she wanted to be in winners’ row.

He told the T&T Guardian her Carifta trials time of 11.39, was better than the team expected. They had her timed to run 11.40.

“The reality is, that my athletes are never going to run fast in January, February, March, April, May, not relative to what they’re going to run in the summer. Last year, she started at 11.80 and eventually got down to 11.19. So this year, she is starting at 11.39, so we feel very good. Beating the Jamaicans would be tough; that’s every year, but I also don’t put my athletes in a situation where they are going to fail,” Boldon said.

“So, we are ready for the challenge from the other islands and I am particularly looking forward to the challenge from the young Bajan who just ran 22.61, a second faster than she (Khalifa) has ever run in her life. She has her work cut out for her and like I tell her all the time, if it was easy anyone could do it. This is not going to look like the Carifta trails. This is the Caribbean’s best and we know how strong the Caribbean is in track and field. She will be challenged, but she is ready for it.”

In a direct response, St Fort underscored her commitment to the task and assured the people of T&T of her clear desire to make them proud.

 “The mindset I have is the same mindset I have for every single race. I go out there and perform my best. I put in the work during practice. I pray on it. All I can do is go out there and run my best,” she said.

Boldon recalled his early days with St Fort almost two years ago, after meeting her father. Back then only St Fort’s father and Boldon could see her potential.

“Khalifa came from a situation in South Florida where she was actually the overlooked and forgotten one on the team. She was the one kind of cast aside as the step child. When I saw her and met her, saw her work ethic, saw her passion and her commitment for what she wanted to be, it changed the entire direction of my life. At the time I was getting offers to go and do other things in television. I had to essentially make a decision to commit to her or pursue my own goals,” he said.

“It’s the best decision that I could have made because she has not only proven me right, but more importantly and more rewardingly, everybody has sort of figured out what I have always known about her. So now, more than she ever she has ever felt before, she is one of us and the people who she represents are firmly behind her.”

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on March 27, 2016, 12:49:04 PM

Khalifa St. Fort speaks after her Under20 100m final success at #taCariftaGames She won the final in 11.40secs

https://www.facebook.com/trackalerts/videos/980624641974050/

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on March 27, 2016, 03:17:23 PM

Khalifa St. Fort 11.40 (-2.7) wins U20 Girls 100m Final Carifta 2016
https://www.youtube.com/v/QaADqTZs2Dc

Event 8  Girls 100 Meter Dash UNDER 20
============================================================================
       World: W 10.49  7/16/1988   Florence Griffith-Joyner, USA           
     Carifta: C 11.03  4/11/1998   Tamicka Clarke                           
World Junior: J 11.12  10/18/2000  Veronica CAMPBELL- BROWN, JAM           
W. Jr. Qual.: * 11.80                                                       
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals  Wind Points
============================================================================
Finals                                                                     
  1 St. Fort, Khalifa            Trinidad and Tobago      11.40* -2.7       
  2 Moody, Patrice               Jamaica                  11.68* -2.7       
  3 Bethel, Brianne              Bahamas                  11.75* -2.7       
  4 Fahie, L'Tisha               B.V.I.                   11.86  -2.7       
  5 Reid, Shanice                Jamaica                  11.87  -2.7       
  6 Soleyn, Bliss                Antigua and Barbuda      12.05  -2.7       
  7 Jack, Nia                    US Virgin Islands        12.26  -2.7       

Title: St Fort, Hosford strike Carifta gold
Post by: Socapro on March 27, 2016, 03:21:56 PM

St Fort, Hosford strike Carifta gold (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2016-03-27/st-fort-hosford-strike-carifta-gold)
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Guardian)
Published: Sunday, March 27, 2016
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20celebrates%20after%20winning%202016%20Carifta%20U20%20100m%20Final%20in%2011.40%2002.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20celebrates%20after%20winning%202016%20Carifta%20U20%20100m%20Final%20in%2011.40%2002.jpg.html)
Khalifa St Fort --- Photo by TrackAlerts

Tyriq Horsford and Khalifa St Fort of T&T both won gold medals on day one of the 45th Annual Carifta Games at the National Athletics Stadium in Grenada, yesterday.

Horsford was a class above the rest in the boys Under-18 javelin event. He defended his title and broke his own Carifta record when he threw the spear 73.00 metres on his second of six attempts to break his 70.73m Carifta record he set last year in St Kitts. Finishing a distant second was Keyon Burton of Dominica with a top throw of 64.87m, while Grenadian Adrian Thomas was third in 60.97m.

It was a dominant performance by Horsford in the second event of the meet. In his first attempt, he threw the javelin 64.58m before breaking the record in his second attempt. After fouling his third throw, he recorded distances of 67.18m, 66.93m and 67.25m on his remaining throws.       

After winning the event for a second consecutive year Horsford said, “It’s a wonderful feeling breaking the record again. It was very competitive with a few throwers getting over 60 metres.”

St Fort, trained by former T&T sprinter Ato Boldon, won gold in the girls U-20 100m finals in 11.40 seconds, ahead of Jamaican Patrice Moody (11.68) and Brianne Bethel of Bahamas (11.75).

Ianna Roach won T&T’s second medal of the day, grabbing silver with a season’s best in the girls Under-18 shot put finals. Roach was out the blocks early, with a throw of 14.49m in her first attempt which ensured her a podium finish. The T&T athlete did not improve on her first attempt. She recorded a distance of 13.40m in her second effort, followed by 13.35m, 14.41m, a fouled attempt and 14.13m.

Lacee Barnes of Cayman Islands won gold with a top throw of 14.90m on her first attempt, while Jamaican Aiko Jones grabbed bronze ending with a best throw of 14.32m.

Chelsea James, Onal Mitchell and Adell Colthrust all won bronze medals for T&T. James copped third place in the girls Under-20 shot put event with an effort of 13.66m on her third attempt, while Mitchell won bronze in the boys U-18 400m finals in a time of 48.72 seconds. In the boys Under-18 100m final, Colthrust ran 10.66 seconds to claim bronze.

SELECTED RESULTS

Boys Under-18 Javelin Finals

1 Horsford, Tyriq - T&T - 73.00 metres (Carifta record)

2 Burton, Keyon - Dominica - 64.87m

3 Thomas, Adrian - Grenada - 60.97m 

Girls 100m U-20 Finals

1 St. Fort, Khalifa - T&T -  11.40

2 Moody, Patrice - Jamaica - 11.68

3 Bethel, Brianne - Bahamas - 11.75 

Girls Shot Put U-18 Finals

1 Barnes, Lacee - Cayman Islands - 14.90m       

2 Roach, Ianna - T&T - 14.49m       

3 Jones, Aiko - Jamaica - 14.32m

Girls Shot Put U-20 Finals

1 Fullerton, Janell -  Jamaica - 14.52m       

2 Stevens, Sahjay - Jamaica - 13.74m       

3 James, Chelsea - T&T - 13.66m       

Boys 400m U-18 Finals

1 Taylor, Christopher - Jamaica - 47.36 sec             

2 Hoyte-Small, Antoni - Barbados - 48.23             

3 Mitchell, Onal -  T&T - 48.72

Boys 100m  U-18 Finals

1 Matherson, Jhevaughn - Jamaica - 10.42     

2 Russell, Dejour - Jamaica - 10.60   

3 Colthrust, Adell - T&T - 10.66

Title: Hip pain stops St Fort’s bid for Carifta double
Post by: Socapro on March 28, 2016, 11:58:26 AM

Hip pain stops St Fort’s bid for Carifta double (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,225860.html)
by CLAYTON CLARKE Monday, March 28 2016 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20celebrates%20after%20winning%202016%20Carifta%20U20%20100m%20Final%20in%2011.40.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St.%20Fort%20celebrates%20after%20winning%202016%20Carifta%20U20%20100m%20Final%20in%2011.40.jpg.html)
Khalifa St. Fort celebrates after winning 2016 Carifta Girls U20 100m Final in 11.40

Trinidad and Tobago’s Khalifa St Fort’s bid for double Carifta gold ended yesterday at the Grenada Athletic Stadium in Grenada.

St Fort on Saturday night sped to TT’s second gold medal, blowing away the field in the girls under 20 100m in 11.40 seconds (-2.7 wind). Jamaican Patrice Moody trailed badly in 10.68 seconds while Bahamian Brianne Bethlel came third in 11.75.

The World Championships 4x100m bronze medallist’s Carifta campaign was cut short, however, as she was unable to compete in the 200m event yesterday due to a hip problem. Her coach and sprint legend Ato Boldon tweeted, “In warm-ups this morning Khalifa’s hip pain became severe, and I’ve made the decision to pull her. Her Carifta 2016 is over.” In the boys under 18 100m final, TT’s Adel Colthurst (Debe Sec) took bronze in 10.68.

Anya Akili (Bishops High) claimed bronze too in the girls open heptathlon yesterday. Akili was third with 4471 points to finish behind the Jamaican pair of Janell Fullerton (4597) and Zinedine Russell (4524). Akili was in second at the end of day one and remained in the runner-up position until the sixth event, the long jump. She was beaten to the line by Russell in the final event (800m) yesterday evening.

The gold was the second for Fullerton as she won the girls under 20 shot put on Friday. Akili’s bronze medal was the lone podium finish for TT on the second day before the start of the boys under 20 long jump and 4x100m relays.

Jeminise Parris (St Francois Girls) was fourth in the girls under 20 400m hurdles in 1:02.29 as Jamaican Shannan Kalawan took the gold in a Carifta record of 56.29 ahead of Lakeisha Warner of the British Virgin Islands (58.14) and another Jamaican 58.34. Cheziah Phillip (Toco Secondary) was fifth in the girls under 18 400m hurdles in 1:09.10. Jamaican Shiann Salmon took the top spot in a Carifta record of 59.50 to add to her victory in the high jump on Friday.

Salmon’s compatriot Sanique Walker was second (59.60) with Bahamian Gabrielle Gibson taking third (1:01.16). In the morning session, Akanni Hislop (Bishop High) topped the boys under 20 200m heats clocking the fastest time of 21.01 to win heat four.

Tyrel Edwards (Toco Sec) was third best in the boys under 18 200m heats with a personal best of 21.72 to finish first in heat three of four. The 200m finals are set for this evening.

Akila Lewis (Bishops Anstey) and Ayla Stanislaus (Scarborough Sec) bowed out in the girls under 18 200m heats.

Lewis was 11th overall in 25.07 while Stanislaus was 12th (25.10).

In the girls under 20 200m heats Renee Stoddard (Providence Girls) finished 11th in 25.24 with only the top eight advancing to the finals.

Joanna Rogers (St. Francois Girls) and Kershel Mc Intyre (St.

James Sec) advanced to the girls under 18 800m finals.

Rogers was 6th in the heats in 2:19.52 while Mc Intyre was 7th (2:19.66). Jaden St Louis (St. Anthony’s College) will vie for gold in the boys under 18 800m finals after he finished 6th in the heats in 1:57.72 pb.

However, Recardo Prescott (St.

James Sec) did not advanced as he finished 22nd quickest in 2:17.03.

Several TT athletes were in action late yesterday: Che Richards (St. Mary’s College) boys under 20 long jump, the girls and boys under 18 4x100m and girls under 20 4x100m.

T&T Carifta medals:
Gold - Khalifa St Fort (Girls under 20 100m); Tyriq Horsford (Boys under 18 javelin)
Silver - Ianna Roach (Girls under 18 shot put)
Bronze - Onal Mitchell (Boys under 18 400m); Chelsea James (Girls under 20 shot put); Adel Colsthurst (Boys under 18 100m)

Title: RUNAWAY GOLD
Post by: Socapro on March 28, 2016, 12:56:39 PM

RUNAWAY GOLD (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160327/sports/runaway-gold)
By Kwame Laurence in St George's
Published on Mar 27, 2016, 11:03 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20celebrates%20her%20Carifta%202016%20Girlsrsquo%20under-20%20100%20metres%20triumph%20at%20National%20Athletics%20Stadium%20in%20St%20Georgersquos%20Grenada.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro154/Khalifa%20St%20Fort%20celebrates%20her%20Carifta%202016%20Girlsrsquo%20under-20%20100%20metres%20triumph%20at%20National%20Athletics%20Stadium%20in%20St%20Georgersquos%20Grenada.jpg.html)
CELEBRATION TIME: Trinidad and Tobago’s Khalifa St Fort celebrates her Carifta 2016 girls’ under-20 100 metres triumph, at the National Athletics Stadium in St George’s, Grenada, on Saturday night. —Photo: PAUL VOISIN

St George’s
 
“Happy that I was able to execute my race plan well, and represent Trinidad and Tobago well. I feel amazing.”

Khalifa St Fort had every reason to be thrilled with her performance on day one of the 2016 Carifta Games, at the National Athletics Stadium here in St George’s, Grenada, on Saturday night. The T&T sprinter outclassed her rivals in the girls’ under-20 100 metres final, separating herself from the field and romping to victory in a wind-hindered 11.40 seconds.

While the athletes in the three other century finals benefitted from following winds, the under-20 girls had to contend with a 2.7 metres per second headwind. St Fort shrugged off the inconvenience, the dominant run forcing her peers to battle for the minor medals. Jamaica’s Patrice Moody snapped up silver in 11.68 seconds, while bronze went to Bahamian Brianne Bethel (11.75).

“I’d be satisfied if she got a tailwind like everybody else,” St Fort’s coach Ato Boldon told the Express. “She has been more accurate than I have been so far this year. She said she was going to run 11.3 in Trinidad at the trials. She did. I thought she would have run a little slower. And now she said she’s coming here for 11.17. That’s exactly what it is with a zero wind.

“If she had the wind from the semi-finals,” he continued, “it’s in the low 11.1s. You’re talking about times that have never been seen by athletes this age, so we’re very very happy about tonight’s performance.”
The 11.17 clocking St Fort had targeted ahead of Carifta 2016 carries special significance for the 18-year-old sprinter. Her training partner, Kelly-Ann Baptiste is the national junior record holder at 11.17.
“We have a joke in practice,” a laughing St Fort told the Express. “Kelly-Ann said I’m not going to break it. She said it’s still there for at least one more year. But by the end of this season it will be done and dusted.”

St Fort was also expected to challenge for the 200m title here in Grenada, but was withdrawn from the event.

“In warm-ups this morning,” Boldon said on Twitter, yesterday, “Khalifa’s hip pain became severe, and I’ve made the decision to pull her. Her Carifta 2016 is over.”

Adell Colthrust also climbed the podium on Saturday night, the T&T sprinter securing bronze in the boys’ under-18 100m dash with a 10.66 seconds run. Jamaicans Jhevaughn Matherson (10.42) and Dejour Russell (10.60) finished one-two.

Onal Mitchell picked up bronze in the boys’ under-18 400m. The T&T quartermiler crossed the line fourth, but was promoted following the disqualification of Guyana’s Daniel Williams for running out of his lane. Mitchell clocked 48.72 seconds to trail Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor, the gold medallist in 47.36, and Barbadian Antoni Hoyte-Small (48.23).

Anya Akili bagged bronze in the girls’ open heptathlon, accumulating 4,471 points in the seven-discipline event. Jamaicans Janell Fullerton (4,597) and Zinedine Russell (4,524) claimed the top two spots.

Akili was stronger on Saturday, the opening day of the heptathlon, her best performances coming in the 100m hurdles and 200m. Akili was first in her section and second overall in the sprint hurdles in 14.76 seconds, the run earning her 874 points. And in the 200m, she clocked the fastest time, 25.40 seconds, to add 850 points.

Akili produced a gutsy performance in yesterday’s 800m, closing off her medal bid with a third-place finish in two minutes, 28.46 seconds. The run, worth 712 points, secured a spot on the podium for the T&T athlete.

In the early session, yesterday, Akanni Hislop topped the third boys’ under-20 200m qualifying heat in 21.01 seconds to lead all qualifiers into today’s final. Tyrell Edwards progressed to the boys’ under-18 half-lap final thanks to his wind-assisted winning run of 21.72 in heat three.

Kershel McIntyre and Joanna Rogers will face the starter in the girls’ under-18 800m championship race, after finishing third and fourth in their respective qualifying heats. McIntyre returned a time of 2:19.66, while Rogers clocked 2:19.52.

Jaden St Louis, who finished third in the second boys’ under-18 800m heat in 1:57.72, is through to the final. But his T&T teammate Recardo Prescott, eighth in heat three in 2:09.75, was eliminated.

The 4x100m relay events were contested after press time, last night.

Title: Nice Interview with Khalifa St Fort at Carifta 2016 Grenada
Post by: Socapro on March 31, 2016, 07:19:45 AM

Nice Interview with Khalifa St Fort she speaks about how she got into track & field, her coaching change to Ato Boldon & her future Goals Carifta 2016 Grenada.

Great Interview with Ato Boldon and Khalifa St Fort at Carifta Games Grenada 2016
https://www.youtube.com/v/GPdgvvpuoGY

Nice Interview with Khalifa St Fort Carifta 2016 Grenada
https://www.youtube.com/v/lwW9-2ev5j4

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on July 21, 2016, 04:59:16 PM

Khalifa win's World U20 100m bronze! :thumbsup:

Khalifa St Fort 3rd in Women's 100m Final - IAAF World U20 Championships 2016 in Bydgoszcz
https://www.youtube.com/v/ygBJqXtGEW4

After race interview with Khalifa.

IAAF WU20 Championships Bydgoszcz 2016 100m Women Final Bronze Khalifa ST FORT TTO
https://www.youtube.com/v/kKmR6t5EpqU

MEDAL CEREMONY

Khalifa St Fort Receives Medal From Ato Boldon | Women's 100m | WU20 Champs 2016
https://www.youtube.com/v/r-w_4HLcz5o

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Trini _2026 on June 23, 2019, 04:27:34 AM

So what is the latest news?

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on June 23, 2019, 10:03:26 PM

Quote from: Trini _2022 on June 23, 2019, 04:27:34 AM

So what is the latest news?

Good question. Hopefully Ato will give us an update.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: ffisback on June 24, 2019, 12:38:05 PM

She got injured right before the world relays.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on June 25, 2019, 10:33:32 AM

Quote from: ffisback on June 24, 2019, 12:38:05 PM

She got injured right before the world relays.

Ato did say during or soon after World Relays that Khalifa was over her injury and should be vying for a spot on the TTO Pan Am Games and World Championships teams.

Maybe she picked up another injury. Hopefully we will get an update soon from Ato as I was sort of expecting Khalifa to be running as fast as or even faster than Briana Williams this season.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: real madness on June 27, 2019, 11:22:31 AM

Khalifa is nowhere close to the same league as Brianna. I wish she was as talented but that is not the case. Hopefully she can close the gap with hard work.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: real madness on June 27, 2019, 06:02:14 PM

https://www.sportsmax.tv/index.php/athletics/athletics-regional/item/41118-tt-star-khalifa-st-fort-and-coach-ato-boldon-part-company?fbclid=IwAR2kV6_Scm9I5HbXfAXRO2fgKBhEu4wCFRlh5VPPgVBlq83wCwADTuJ63E4

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on June 28, 2019, 07:23:33 PM

Well good luck to Khalifa. I hope she overcome the injuries and be ready for Tokyo

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: maxg on November 27, 2019, 02:26:49 PM

Who is her present coach ? How is she doing ? Just saw a pic of her in Newsday, she looked a bit heavy to my untrained eye.

https://newsday.co.tt/2019/11/25/olympic-stars-share-knowledge-at-atlantic-camp/

Wonderful initiative btw

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: asylumseeker on November 27, 2019, 02:53:43 PM

Quote from: maxg on November 27, 2019, 02:26:49 PM

Who is her present coach ? How is she doing ? Just saw a pic of her in Newsday, she looked a bit heavy to my untrained eye.

https://newsday.co.tt/2019/11/25/olympic-stars-share-knowledge-at-atlantic-camp/

Wonderful initiative btw

https://www.youtube.com/v/85wN5YZU484

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on November 27, 2019, 06:38:34 PM

Good initiative!

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Sando prince on December 12, 2019, 09:25:51 AM

Quote from: Deeks on November 27, 2019, 06:38:34 PM

Good initiative!

yup

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: A.B. on December 14, 2019, 12:10:55 AM

I'm glad this thread is here, so I can reminisce and follow the story arc from beginning to now.

Having said that, I have no idea where any TTO track and field medals would come from in Tokyo 2020. Keshorn delivered two in a row, and that event is vastly different now than it was in 2012.

Zero medals won at this year's worlds championships (only 3 individual-event finalists 200/400/javelin). That's usually an indicator.

I have been warning about this for years.
This is what happens when you put people who aren't capable to run a sport.

Now, the inevitable will happen, and as usual, nobody will be held accountable - or be asked to step down.

Sound familiar? Seems to happen in every single aspect of TNT life lately.

The bigger question is - can any other sport in Tokyo 2020 stop the beginning of another drought?
Cycling?

We have not come home with zero medals from the Olympics since 1992.

And even after Tokyo 2020, what prospects exist for 2024?
We have a federation that has said "we only have sprinters here (false)" and they have no mechanisms in place to find foreign-based talent, either.

We have no young stars in track and field that have shown themselves capable on the next level (ZERO medals from world juniors 2018, no individual finalists)

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Deeks on December 14, 2019, 03:00:50 AM

Well Breds, I don't know what to tell yuh. Football just waking up from a long nightmare.

 TF has always been an up and down case. But after 92, one or 2 individuals have always  surfaced to bring the occasional bronze, sometimes silver and the very rare gold. I have read on this forum where you, Sando, Gawd on the pitch, socapro, real madness and many others argue, argue, argue ..... present plans that the TF fraternity should implement for the 4 year cycle. How long you stop running? How long you were MoS ? Donkey years. Doh worry you still looking young. But let it happen. Maybe it is a good thing for TF to come home with zero medals to wake up the NAAA. So the only Trini face we will be seeing for a WHOLE week on tv in Tokyo is yours.   :banginghead: ;D

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on December 15, 2019, 09:54:39 AM

Thanks for your feedback Ato. You have been predicting this coming drought for a while now.
Sad to say you are right once again.  :(

I am still wondering who is Khaifa's coach and how or if she is preparing for making the TTO Team for the Olympics next year as all athletes who are serious about being at Tokyo 2020 next year should have already started their winter preparations as the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is less than 8 months away.

Khalifa's facebook page only seems to have stuff about church and praying but nothing at all about her winter training or if it has started and how things are progressing for her from a sprinting perspective with Tokyo in mind. See this link for confirmation: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011981013214

Maybe someone should seek Khalifa out for an interview and update on her status and preparations as everyone seems to be wondering what is happening with her as no one has a clue.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: A.B. on December 16, 2019, 02:23:52 PM

I know the idea of it sounds great but if in the year BEFORE the Olympics you're trying to find a way out, then you're already done.

It's not happening.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: A.B. on December 18, 2019, 10:42:21 PM

I've been told Khalifa has resumed training in Orlando since the beginning of December, where Keston Bledman and Kelly-Ann Baptiste train under coach Lance Brauman.

Title: Re: Khalifa St Fort "De Real Deal" Thread
Post by: Socapro on December 19, 2019, 03:15:03 PM

Quote from: A.B. on December 18, 2019, 10:42:21 PM

I've been told Khalifa has resumed training in Orlando since the beginning of December, where Keston Bledman and Kelly-Ann Baptiste train under coach Lance Brauman.

Many thanks for the update Ato!  :salute: