Gordon vs Sanchez on new Crawford track

[fLaSh]

Gordon vs Sanchez on new Crawford track
All systems go for Hampton 2011
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jul 20, 2011 at 12:59 AM ECT
Story Updated: Jul 20, 2011 at 12:59 AM ECT


Reigning world junior champion Jehue Gordon is expected to renew his rivalry with 2004 Olympic gold medallist Felix Sanchez at this weekend's Hampton International Games.

The one-lap hurdlers will clash on the brand new Hasely Crawford Stadium track.

At a press conference, at the Ministry of Sport, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, yesterday, Hampton International Games president Noel Hyland said all systems are go for the 2011 edition of the meet.

"We are blessed that the Hampton International Games will be the one to be opening the new track that has been put down by the Ministry of Sport. We want to thank the Ministry for giving us this opportunity."

German contractor Porplastic is in the final stages of laying the new track. The track is expected to be fully laid and marked before Friday's Caribbean heats.

Gordon and Sanchez clashed last Saturday, at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Track and Field Championships, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Sanchez got the better of his Trinidadian rival, the Dominican Republic athlete snapping up silver in the men's 400 metres hurdles in 49.41 seconds. Gordon clocked 50.10 to earn bronze.

Nineteen-year-old Gordon leads 5-3 in head-to-head clashes with Sanchez and would be keen to extend that lead in front of his home crowd on Saturday.

Another former Olympic champion, 2004 men's 200m winner Shawn Crawford, is listed for action in the men's 100m and 200m events at Hampton 2011.

In the 100m, Crawford will take on fellow American Jeffery Demps, Jamaican Oshane Bailey, and Trinidad and Tobago sprinters Darrel Brown, Rondel Sorrillo, Emmanuel Callender and Aaron Armstrong.

And in the longer sprint, Crawford squares off against Sorrillo, Callender and Armstrong.

"The theme will be Trinidad and Tobago versus the rest," Hyland declared.

CAC Championship men's 400m gold medallist Renny Quow is among the T&T athletes who will be on show at the Hampton International Games.

The list also includes Lalonde Gordon (men's 400m), Aleesha Barber (women's 100m hurdles), Melissa De Leon (women's 800m) and Jamaal James (men's 800m).

American jumper Walter Davis is among the foreigners billed to compete. His compatriots, Natasha Hastings (women's 400m) and Ginnie Crawford (women's 100m hurdles) are also listed for action, as well as Nigerian sprinter Oludamola Osayomi and Jamaican sprint hurdler Vonette Dixon.

Hyland said the cost of staging this weekend's meet is "about $1.4 million".

He explained that the Ministry of Sport "is dealing with the appearance fees, the hotel accommodation and airfare" for the elite athletes.

Friday's Caribbean heats will be staged at the Crawford Stadium from two p.m., while the starting time on Saturday and Sunday is one p.m.

Admission to the Stadium on Saturday and Sunday is $40 for the covered stands and $20 for the uncovered stands.

The 2011 edition of the Hampton International Games is being held in honour of deceased Hampton and T&T coach Hubert Francis.

[Trini1]

The track will actually be ready about time... but it's a bit much for the champs to be so close to the world champs isn't it! Hope the track is maintained and the stadium isn't abused!

[Sando prince]

race will be interesting. I hope Jehue peaks at the Worlds so he can have a better chance to medal

[Flex]

Gordon beats Sanchez
Clayton Clarke (Guardian).
 
Jehue Gordon blazed to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles on the final day of action of the 2011 Hampton Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, yesterday. The 2010 World Junior champion won commandingly in 48.92 seconds, leaving the two-time World champion/2004 Olympic gold medallist Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic), 49.75 in his wake.

Gordon started conservatively as his compatriot Emmanuel Mayers set a blistering pace out in lane six and was ahead up the 200m mark. The UWI St Augustine student changed gears and zoomed ahead of Sanchez, who was on his outside. On the homestretch, the national record holder pulled away to dip under the 49 second mark for the first time this season and established the fastest ever time run in the event on local soil. The time is also a season’s best for Gordon, lowering his 49.09 on May 26. Speaking after the win Gordon said he is feeling great after the victory.

Gordon gained revenge after Sanchez took silver ahead of him at last week’s CAC Championships in Puerto Rico. The five-time Carifta champion is preparing for next month’s World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea from August 27 to September 4.

Janiel Bellille was seeking to match Gordon’s feat in the women’s event but the Neon Trackers hurdler was forced into second in 56.85 by American Takecia Jameson (56.45). The race is a rematch of the 2008 World Junior Championships where Jameson took the gold ahead of Bellille. Quincy Wilson set a new national men’s discus record with a throw of 58.66m. His mark replaces the 58.60m he set in winning the Palo Seco Games title in May. However, his effort was only good enough for second as Jamaican Jason Morgan took the gold in 60.81.

Morgan took the CAC title in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on July 15 with Wilson taking the bronze. Rondel Liverpool (T&TDF) was the best in the field in the men’s high Jump (1.85m) with Dover’s Dwaine Herbert taking the men’s long jump 7.35m (+3.0). Cleveland Forde (Guyana) ran away with the men’s 5000m (14:51:19) with T&T’s Kendis Bullard in a distant second (16:10:82).

Robert Novak, Ashton Gill and Aaliyah Telesford secured double wins. Novak of the USA followed up his 1,500m win on Saturday by taking the men’s 800m in 1:48:61 with T&T and Neon Trackers’ Jamaal James taking the silver (1:48:67) and Sterling Paul (Neon Trackers) the bronze (1:53:72).

Gill completed a 800/1500 double. The Cougars athletes raced to the boys under-17 two lap title in 2:16:83 well ahead of Joseph Allen (Running Brave-Guyana) 2:25:85. Telesford (Pt Fortin New Jets) swept the girls under-17 sprints capturing the 200m in 24.75 ahead of the 400m champion Kayelle Clarke (Petrotrin Pointe A Pierre) 24.99 to add to the 100m crown on Saturday. Neon Trackers’ Ayoka Cumming was third (25.14). Aaron Armstrong failed in his bid for a sprint double.

After racing to victory in the men’s International 100m dash on Saturday in a season’s best time of 10.13 the 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was third in 200m section two in 20.93 and fifth overall. Brendan Christian of Antigua and Barbuda clocked the fastest time taking race two in 20.73 with Rondel Sorillo (20.76) in second and USA’s Antonio Sales in third (20.91).

2004 Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford (USA) finished eighth in 21.29. US Collegiate champion Candyce McGrone took the women’s dash in 11.18 with local sprinter Ayanna Hutchinson in second (11.53) with another American Jasmine Baldwin in third (11.60). Reyare Thomas (Neon Trackers) claimed the women’s open 100m in 11.69 while Concorde’s Shermund Allsop taking the men’s equivalent in 10.48. Natasha Hasting topped the women’s International 400m field.

The American clocked 51.64 with Jamaican Patricia Hall taking the runner up spot in 52.66. Hall’s country man Oral Thompson grabbed the men’s one lap in 45.88 ahead of LaToy Williams (Bahamas) 46.18) with TT’s Jarrin Solomon (46.27) and Zwede Hewitt (46.45) behind. Da-Neil Telesford copped the men’s open 200 and 400m races. QRC’s Robert Collingwood was the victor in the men’s shot put in 16.00m with his twin brother in second in 15.17m.