2011 Tobago Falcon Games

[fLaSh]

Gordon strikes Falcon gold
Winning Carifta warm-ups for Spann, Landeau
By Kwame Laurence In Bacolet
Story Created: Apr 16, 2011 at 11:54 PM ECT
Story Updated: Apr 16, 2011 at 11:54 PM ECT


Jehue Gordon emerged victorious in his 2011 one-lap hurdles opener, the world junior champion getting home first at the 10th Falcon Games, at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, here in Bacolet, Tobago, yesterday.

"I'm totally satisfied," Gordon told the Sunday Express, after the race.

The Trinidad and Tobago athlete had every reason to be pleased with his battling triumph, over Puerto Rico's Eric Alejandro, in the men's 400 metres hurdles.

Alejandro had the edge coming home, but lost his rhythm and hit the final barrier. Gordon pounced on the opening, grabbing gold in 50.11 seconds. Alejandro was forced to settle for silver in 50.28, while bronze was bagged by T&T's Brandon Benjamin, the Carifta Games selectee clocking 53.93.

Gordon used the race as a test of his readiness for the 2011 season, following foot surgery last October. The 19-year-old passed with flying colours.

"I was feeling good. I finished the race.

"I'm really satisfied, because after such a long few months out of track it was really hard, but I had to keep focused.

"I just want to start back to feel good, have the confidence of being able to put the amount of pressure on my leg as I used to before. I just want to stay healthy, go out there and run fast, and win."

Gordon said improving on his 48.26 seconds national record is among his goals for 2011.

"As soon as possible. Once things are up to mark in training, it's possible."

Kernesha Spann and Gabriela Cumberbatch will both wear T&T colours at next weekend's Carifta Games, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Yesterday, they finished one-two in the women's 400m hurdles. Spann returned a time of one minute, 00.04 seconds, while Cumberbatch clocked 1:00.34. Barbados athlete Sade Greenidge finished third in 1:03.41.

Another Barbadian, Shakera Reece sprinted to victory in the women's 200m. Reece clocked 24.09 seconds to finish well ahead of silver medallist Romona Modeste (24.80). Donelle Stafford (26.29) was a distant third.
American Jamil Hubbard was first home in the men's half-lap race in 21.24 seconds. Kevin Haynes (21.44) was second and Dan-Neil Telesford (21.72) third.

George Smith triumphed in the men's 800m in 1:55.12. Sterlen Paul seized silver in 1:55.47, while bronze went to Guyana's Cleveland Thomas (1:55.52).

In her final two-lap outing ahead of Carifta 2011, Domonique Williams produced a spirited effort. Jessica James, however, held off her challenge for victory in the women's 800m in 2:14.97. Williams clocked 2:15.07 to secure silver, while Kimberly George picked up bronze in 2:28.88.

Nicholas Landeau warmed up for the Carifta Games with a comfortable victory in the boys' under-17 800m.
At the bell, Landeau was second, behind his Carifta teammate Akeem Marshall. But with 200 metres to go, Landeau was in front, the Belmont Boys Secondary student going on to win in 2:00.64, beating Marshall (2:01.81) and Runako Sherwood (2:04.76) into second and third, respectively.

Landeau is expected to bid for honours in the boys' under-17 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m events, at Carifta 2011.

"I'm going for nothing less than gold to make my country proud," a confident Landeau declared, following yesterday's two-lap triumph.

Quincy Wilson was on fire in the men's discus, the 20-year-old athlete winning the event with a huge 54.39 metres throw. Carifta athlete Akeem Stewart produced a 47.03m effort to finish second, while third spot went to Rodney Liverpool (34.04m).

Falcon Games action continues from 9.30 this morning. The Durly Lucas 10K, from Lambeau to the Yorke Stadium, starts at six a.m.

[fLaSh]

Walcotts smash national junior records
By Kwame Laurence Bacolet
Story Created: Apr 17, 2011 at 11:37 PM ECT
Story Updated: Apr 17, 2011 at 11:37 PM ECT


Keshorn Walcott enjoyed the perfect warm-up ahead of the Carifta Games, the Trinidad and Tobago athlete smashing his own national junior (under-20) javelin record, at the Falcon Games, in Bacolet, Tobago, yesterday.

Not to be outdone, his elder brother, Elton Walcott then seized sole ownership of the junior triple jump record he had shared with Kyron Blaise.

Keshorn dominated the men's javelin field with a big 69.01 metres effort, his second record-breaking throw in the competition. After fouling his opening throw, the 18-year-old field athlete landed the spear 67.32m in the second round, improving on his 67.02m national junior standard by 30 centimetres.

But Keshorn was not satisfied, the reigning Carifta Games boys' under-20 champion producing the 69.01m monster throw in round four.

Akim Phillips was a distant second with a 53.25m effort, while third spot went to Ian Gross (46.02m).
From the very first round in the men's triple jump, Elton made a mockery of the 15.88m T&T under-20 standard—established by Blaise in 2008 and equalled by Elton at last year's Falcon Games. The 19-year-old jumped 16.00m to break the record.

And in still conditions, in the second round, Walcott improved to 16.28m—the distance that was written into the T&T record books at the end of the competition. For good measure, he jumped 16.16m in round three.
Walcott, who will chase a hat-trick of Carifta Games boys' under-20 titles in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on the weekend, was a comfortable winner of yesterday's event, his 16.28m leap giving him a huge cushion on second-placed Francis Louis (13.17m).

Winston George topped the men's 400m field in 47.17 seconds, the Guyana quartermiler getting home ahead of Deon Lendore (47.56) and Kevin Haynes (47.71).

Jessica James completed the women's 800/400 double when she claimed top spot in the one-lap event in 56.19 seconds. Crystal Skeete (57.94) and Natalie Dixon (58.16) picked up the minor medals.

George Smith returned a time of four minutes, 00.91 seconds to strike gold in the men's 1,500m.

Mark London was within striking distance of the front-running Smith for much of the race. But in the final lap, Smith opened up a gap on the 2010 Carifta Games double gold medallist. And 200 metres from home, Smith led by some 15 metres. But by that time, it was Guyana's Cleveland Thomas who was in second spot. Thomas stayed there, getting home in 4:02.26, while London clocked 4:06.11 to claim bronze.

Barbadian Shakera Reece followed up on Saturday's victory in the women's 200m (24.09) with gold in yesterday's 100m dash. She got to the line in 11.81 seconds.

In the men's 100m, St Vincent's Courtney Bascombe triumphed in 10.73 seconds, the same time clocked by runner-up Rupert Perry of Guyana.

Quincy Wilson added men's shot put gold to the discus title he had captured on Saturday. Wilson was the class of the field, throwing the iron ball 16.82m to beat Akeem Stewart (15.27m) and Hezekiel Romeo (15.10m) into second and third, respectively.

On Saturday, Charisse Bacchus won the women's long jump with a 5.94m leap.

And early yesterday, Denzel Ramirez captured the top prize in the Durly Lucas 10K. The soldier completed the course--from Petit Trou Beach in Lambeau to the Yorke Stadium—in 32 minutes, 21 seconds.

Richard Jones provided a strong challenge, eventually finishing second in 32:31. Jordan Desilets, winner of Saturday's men's 5,000m in 15:08.69, was forced to settle for third spot in the 10K, the American getting home in 33:21.

Celine Lestrade won the women's race in 42:17. Guyana's Oslyn Collins, who topped the women's 3,000m field on Saturday in 11:18.53, was a distant second in the Lucas 10K, clocking 44:18. Paulette Lucess (44:50) finished third.