Glad to see one of my old classmates from St Benedict's still making his contribution to T&T athletics and putting us on the map.
Prime strikes World Masters Gold
Story Created: Mar 27, 2014 at 9:28 PM ECT (T&T Express)
Martin Prime won Trinidad and Tobago’s first gold at the 2014 World Masters Association Indoor Track and Field Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.
Prime was first to the line in the men’s 50-54 60m finals in a time of 7.44 seconds. Starting in lane four the San Fernando runner took an early lead and held on for the victory ahead of Petteri Soini of Finland (7.52) and Italian Giancarlo D’Oro (7.55).
Another T&T competitor, Irvin Thomas was sixth (7.61). Prime made his golden intentions known in the earlier rounds topping the heats (7.50) and semifinals (7.49) on Tuesday with Thomas, fourth quickest in each round (7.63 and 7.64 respectively).
The TSTT’s employee’s triumph is the first medal performance for this country’s ten member contingent in Budapest.
Prime joins Gwendolyn Smith (2012-W 45-49 shot put and javelin), Geraldine George (2010 and 2012-W 35-39 shot put and javelin) as T&T’s recent global masters indoor winners. He will bid for a second gold when he lines up the men’s 50-54 200m heats on Thursday along with Thomas and Lester Herbert.
The semifinals ran later yesterday and the finals today. Prime’s 60m victory is his first in his debut at the World Indoors following his five medal haul at the 2013 World Masters Outdoor Championships in Porto Alegre, Brazil last October.
Ahmad As-Siddiq and Albert St Louis qualified for their respective 60m finals but came up short in getting on the medal rostrum.
As-Siddiq was fifth in the men’s 65-59 finals in 8.45. In the semis he was fifth best (8.42).
St Louis crossed the line in sixth place in the men’s 40-44 race in 7.30 dropping one place from is fourth place at the 2012 edition of the meet in Jyvaskla, Finland. In the semis St Louis was third best (7.32).
Terrance Skinner missed out on qualifying for the medal round of the men’s 60-64 event finished 11th in the semifinals (8.44). The top eight advanced to the finals.
Reigning World outdoor champion Rodney Liverpool was fifth in the men’s 35-39 high jump with season’s best leap of 1.99m. Liverpool was looking to match his outdoor victory in Porto Alegre in 2013.
France’s Laurent Jobard took the gold medal clearing 2.05m. Liverpool competed despite experiencing a leg pain. “I got a season’s best and under that kind of pain where I could of barely walk (but) I came out and still manage those things with one leg.” He added that his taking the positive (lessons) of the negative and than all his supporters.
The lanky athlete will be in action in the long jump where he will be hoping to realise his gold medal ambition.
2014 World Masters Association Indoor Track and Field Championships
Budapest, Hungary (March 25-31)
Results
Day two-Wednesday March 26
60m Finals
M 50-54-1st Martin Prime-7.44, 6th Irvin Thomas-7.61
M 65-69-5th Ahmad As-Siddiq-8.45
M 40-44-6th Albert St Louis-7.30
High Jump finals
M 35-39-5th Rodney Liverpool -1.99
60m Semis (Tuesday)
M 50-54-1st Prime 7.49, 1h3 q, 4th Thomas 7.64, 2h2 q
M 40-44-3rd St Louis 7.32, 1h3 q
M 65-69-5th As-Siddiq 8.42, 2h1q
M 60-64-11th Terrance Skinner 8.44, 5h2 dnq
60m Prelims (Tuesday)
M 40-44:4th Albert St. Louis 7.25, 2h4 q
M 50-54: 1st Martin Prime 7.50, 1h4 q, 4th Irvin Thomas (TTO) 7.63, 1h6 q
M 60-64:15th Terrance Skinner 8.61, 4h4 q
M 65-59: 5th As-Siddiq Ahmad 8.49 2h3 q
