Thompson, Baptiste, Bledman win in Miami
Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Tuesday, April 13th 2010
Trinidad and Tobago sprint star Richard Thompson was triumphant in his 2010 individual outdoor opener, at the Miami Alumni meet, in Florida, USA, on Saturday.
The double Olympic silver medallist clocked 20.86 seconds to top the men’s 200 metres field.
Thompson’s compatriots, Renny Quow and Jamil James, were fourth and 27th, respectively. Quow got home in 21.14 seconds, while James clocked 22.21.
Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Keston Bledman were also in winners’ row at the Miami Alumni meet.
Baptiste won the women’s 200m event in a wind-assisted 22.58 seconds. Sasha Springer was 17th in a windy 24.93.
Bledman bolted to victory in the men’s 100m dash in a wind-aided 10.19 seconds.
Louisiana State University (LSU) sophomore Ade Alleyne-Forte earned silver in the men’s 400m in 47.25. And in the men’s 800m, LSU senior Jamaal James returned a time of one minute, 50.11 seconds to bag bronze.
Also on the weekend, Semoy Hackett struck gold in the women’s 100m at the John McDonnell Invitational, in Arkansas. The Lincoln University (Missouri) sprinter got to the line in 11.30 seconds. Another T&T/Lincoln athlete, Kirlene Roberts was seventh in 12.10. In the qualifying round, Hackett had clocked 11.49 seconds and Roberts 12.05. In the 200m, Roberts was ninth overall in a wind-assisted 24.92 seconds.
At the Seminole Invitational, in Florida, Florida State University (FSU) student Pilar McShine produced a superb run in the women’s 3,000m. She topped the field in 9:18.29.
Tonya Nero was a comfortable winner of the women’s 5,000m, at the KT Woodman Invitational, in Kansas. The Wichita State University junior clocked 16:50.17. Her sister, Colby Community College sophomore Scarla Nero was fourth in 17:47.58. Scarla also competed in the 800m, finishing 20th overall in 2:27.45.
Kyron Blaise emerged victorious in the men’s long jump, at the Red Raider Open, in Texas. The South Plains College student produced a 7.67 metres leap. Another T&T/South Plains athlete, Dellon Williams was third with a 7.49m jump. Blaise finished eighth in the 100m in 10.73 seconds.
In the men’s shot put, Quincy Wilson picked up bronze for South Plains with a 17.18m throw.
Abilene Christian University (ACU) sprinter Wanda Hutson finished fifth in the women’s 200m with a 24.19 seconds clocking. New Mexico Highlands University students, Candace St Louis (25.38) and Sherry Ann Baggoo (26.49) were 12th and 22nd, respectively. St Louis was eighth in the 100m in 12.16 seconds, and Baggoo was 14th in the 400m in 58.84.
