I was reading Ato's website and he picked Burns to win easily. anyhow here's the express article.
Brown/Burns show at 'Nationals'
Ashby, Baptiste square off in women's century
Kwame Laurence klaurence@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, June 25th 2005
With Trinidad and Tobago's most prolific Olympian now retired from track and field, Darrel Brown and Marc Burns are the obvious contenders for the pre-eminent position in local sprinting.
However, even in the absence of Ato Boldon, capturing the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championship men's 100 metres title, on the newly-certified track at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, today, may not be as simple as one "B" beating the other.
There are three other men on the entry list who are keen to spoil the Brown/Burns show.
US-born Aaron Armstrong, the son of former T&T track star Ainsley Armstrong, is hoping to continue the family tradition of success on local tracks.
England-born Mark Findlay plans to let his spikes do the talking, in a bid to silence his detractors.
And Jacey Harper, who teamed up with Boldon, Burns and Brown to claim bronze for T&T at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, is keen to prove that his 2003 National Championship 100m triumph was no fluke.
Though two of T&T's top sprinters, Nicconnor Alexander and Cleavon Dillon, will not be among the starters, when the likes of Dion Rodriguez, Kevon Pierre, Melvin Nero, Richard Thompson, Ruben Isaac and juniors Marcus Duncan and Keston Bledman are added to the mix, it is absolutely clear that the eight lanes available for today's men's century final fail to do justice to the depth of T&T sprinting talent.
Antiguan Daniel Bailey appears on the start list as well.
Armstrong, Findlay, Harper, Rodriguez, Pierre, reigning champion Duncan, Bledman, Bailey and Julieon Raeburn are all listed for action in tomorrow's 200m event.
In the women's 100m, Kelly-Ann Baptiste is hoping to dethrone Fana Ashby, the queen of local sprinting.
Baptiste, a student at Louisiana State University (LSU), beat Auburn University's Ashby to the line in the 100m dash at the NCAA Championships, in California, a fortnight ago.
Baptiste finished fourth, while Ashby was seventh. Ashby, whose preparations were hampered by an ankle injury, bids for revenge, today.
But don't expect a two-woman race. Cayman Islands sprinter Cydonie Mothersill-Modibo, the wife of T&T quarter-miler Ato Modibo, could also challenge for the title.
Ayanna Hutchinson, Wanda Hutson, Kelsey Toussaint, Simmy George, Kimberly Walker, national girls under-20 double sprint champion Monique Cabral and Antiguan Sonia Williams are entered as well.
Baptiste and Ashby are expected to clash again, in tomorrow's 200m.
Modibo is tipped to retain his men's 400m title, this evening. When in top form, the Alabama-based quarter-miler is unbeatable in local company. However, if he is not at his best, Damion Barry could snatch the one-lap crown from his grasp. Raeburn, Simon Pierre and teenagers Renny Quow and Jamil James will also bid for men's 400m honours. Barbadian quarter-miler Wilan Louis adds regional flavour to the event.
Nickeisha Charles (women's 400m), Melissa DeLeon (women's 800m), Sherridan Kirk (men's 800m) and Sanchaze Ross (men's 400m hurdles) are all listed to defend their titles.
Charles should get a strong challenge from Josanne Lucas. Last year, Lucas finished third in the women's 400m, and in her pet event, the 400m hurdles, the Auburn student was second to Jamaican Patrina Allen. In 2005, though, Lucas is expected to skip the one-lap hurdles.
For DeLeon, the women's two-lap event is likely to be a race against the clock, as she bids to achieve the 2:01.30 World Championship "B" Standard. Kirk, already a "B" qualifier in the men's 800m, targets the 1:45.40 "A" standard.
Ross should have things all his own way in the men's one-lap hurdles. And he's also the man to beat in the 110m hurdles.
Women's shot put champion Cleopatra Borel-Brown and 2004 men's long jump gold medallist LeJuan Simon have opted to skip the Championships. In Borel-Brown's absence, Candice Scott is a strong favourite for gold.
Teenager Annie Alexander is also expected to show off her wares this weekend. She is the reigning champion in the women's discus. Another teenager, Carifta Games double gold medallist Rhonda Watkins, is listed to compete in both the women's long jump and high jump events. A keen battle, between Watkins and Charisse Bacchus, is anticipated in the long jump.
Action at the Crawford Stadium, today, starts at three p.m.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 2.15.
