Latest News on T&T Athletes at Home & Abroad (2015 Edition)

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Bovell, Borel star at Sports Awards
By Kern De Freitas (T&T Express)
Story Created: Mar 7, 2015 at 8:42 PM ECT

BOVELL COPS IT AGAIN Top man: Trinidad and Tobago swimmer George Bovell holds the First Citizens Sportsman of the Year 2014 award at that organisation’s annual award ceremony at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on Friday night. It was Bovell’s second time winning the honour.
Cleopatra Borel who did not attend won the Sportswoman of the Year Award —Photo: Curtis Chase

“Chase your dreams.”
 
That’s the advice Cleopatra Borel gave to young athletes moments after being crowned Sportswoman of the Year at the First Citizens Sports Foundation 2014 Awards ceremony alongside George Bovell, the Sportsman of the Year.
 
But Borel was not present at the event to collect her award. She was out chasing her own lifelong dream, firmly in competition in Cuba.
 
Instead, the pre-recorded video presentation of the veteran female shot putter passing down pearls of wisdom to up-and-coming sportsmen and women turned out to be a fitting victory speech when the honour was finally announced.
 
“You have to go after your dreams,” Borel urged. “You can never achieve your goals by sitting at home and waiting for the moment. You have to go out there and make it happen. Remember you are your own best advocate. You have to do it.”
 
Bovell, meanwhile, in his usual style, thanked his supporters and those who have helped him along the way. It was his second such award after first being honoured in 2004. Borel triumphed for the fourth time after wins in 2002, 2007 and 2010.
 
The live televised programme also saw Bovell and Borel among the top ten nominees for 2014. Also among them was Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Athlete of the Year Keshorn Walcott, another big contender for the award. Each selectee had a strong year, including Commonwealth Games boxing bronze medallist Michael Alexander, shooter and two-time FCSF Sportsman of the Year Roger Daniel--who won back-to-back awards in 2010-2011—judoka Christopher George and powerlifter Adrian Brown.
 
Powerlifting continues to show tremendous strides, being the only sport outside of track and field to have both its nominees in the top ten, with Yolande Mc Intyre also making the cut. This after powerlifter Giselle-Ann Jackman won the award for 2013.
 
Monica Sealy (golf) and Rheann Chung (table tennis) also had very impressive seasons and made the top ten.
 
The Lystra Lewis award for an outstanding individual or team was presented to the T&T’s women’s football team, which fell at the last hurdle with a late 1-0 defeat to Ecuador.
 
The National Association of Athletics Administrators (NAAA) was given the Jeffrey Stollmeyer Award for the top sporting administration of 2014 in the large category, while the T&T Target Archery Federation got the nod in the medium category.
 
In giving the feature address, incoming UWI pro-vice chancellor Hillary Beckles—who assumes the post from May 1 this year—said the Caribbean has more sportsmen and women per capita than any other region in the world. Where improvements need to happen, Beckles appealed, is in the governance of sport.
 
The event also had its poignant moments, as sportsmen who passed away in the previous year were remembered. They were all men, including runner Hakeem Alexander, Olympic weightlifting silver medalist Rodney Wilkes, Neville Phipps (table tennis), Rawle Barrow (sailing), Kevon Carter (football), Benedict Cayenne (track and field) and cricketer Tevin Robertson.
 
Cycling was hardest hit, losing no fewer than eight personalities: Clinton Grant, Hilton “Barracuda” Mitchell, Kent Luces, Roger Smart, Ronald Dickie Sr, Russell Parris, David Beard and Len Harvey.

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T&T’s Williams, Richards golden at NJCAA Champs
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 9, 2015 at 12:05 AM ECT

Domonique Williams & Jereem Richards capture National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor Track and Field Championship titles

Domonique Williams and Jereem Richards captured National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor Track and Field Championship titles, in New Mexico, USA, on Saturday.

Richards stopped the clock at 46.70 seconds to win the men’s 400 metres final. The South Plains College student had clocked 47.85 in the qualifying round. Central Arizona College freshman, Ruebin Walters was 21st overall in 49.59. (Click link to view final with Jereem Richards: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=843936005665179&fref=nf and click this link to view after race interview: http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/252096-NJCAA-Indoor-Championships-2015/video/762750-Jereem-Richards-after-winning-the-400-in-467)

Williams was the class of the field in the women’s 400m final, the South Plains athlete earning gold in 53.84 seconds. Another Trinidad and Tobago runner, Western Texas College’s Marissa Gale bagged bronze in 55.29.

Walters secured bronze in the men’s 60m hurdles with a 7.88 seconds run. In the qualifying round, he had clocked a personal best 7.77.

In the women’s 200m finals, New Mexico Junior College freshman Kayelle Clarke was fourth in 23.86 seconds, while Williams and Gale were fifth and sixth, respectively, clocking 24.24 and 24.31.

In the preliminaries, Gale got home in 24.23 seconds, Williams produced a 24.39 run, and Clarke clocked 24.40. South Plains College sprinter, Aaliyah Telesford was 26th overall in 25.63.

Central Arizona College thrower Hezekiel Romeo finished fourth in the men’s shot put with a 16.91 metres effort.

John Mark Constantine clocked 6.85 seconds for seventh spot in the men’s 60m final. The Western Texas College sprinter was faster in the qualifying round, getting to the line in 6.75.

Telesford was seventh in the women’s 60m final in 10.49 seconds. She had clocked 7.50 in the preliminaries. Central Arizona College’s Akila McShine was 19th overall in 7.84.

McShine’s 8.66 run in the qualifying round of the women’s 60m hurdles earned her a lane in the final as the third fastest qualifier. However, she did not face the starter in the championship race.

Williams captured three gold medals at the NJCAA Championships. In addition to her individual 400m triumph, she helped South Plains earn the women’s distance medley and 4x400m titles.

Williams ran the second leg (400m) in the distance medley, helping her school to a 12 minutes, 17.58 seconds clocking. And in the 4x4, she performed lead-off duties, setting the stage for a 3:43.32 South Plains run. Gale ran the second leg for fifth-placed Western Texas College (3:50.99).

South Plains won the women’s team title with 147.5 points. New Mexico (73), Central Arizona (65) and Western Texas (30) were third, fourth and eighth, respectively.

South Plains also emerged victorious in the men’s team competition, Richards and company accumulating 136 points. Central Arizona were second with 116, while Western Texas (33) finished ninth.

At the ECAC/IC4A Indoor Championships, in Boston, Coppin State University’s Deandra Daniel cleared the bar at a personal best 1.87 metres to capture the women’s high jump title.

Temple University’s Kiersten LaRoche finished 11th in the women’s long jump with a 5.49m leap and 21st in the 60m hurdles in 8.93 seconds.

Haysean Cowie-Clarke clocked 7.10 for 23rd spot in the men’s 60m dash. And his Coppin State teammate, Mark London was 28th in the men’s 800m in 1:54.95.

At the Marc Randle Classic outdoor meet, in Texas, Dan-Neil Telesford finished third in the men’s 400m in 48.72 seconds and sixth in the 200m in 22.05. His Wiley College teammate, Quinn-Lee Ralph was fourth in the men’s 200m in 21.61 and 11th in the 100m in 10.99.

[che]

Seems we will be good for a while in the 400m with Richards and St. Claire in the wings. Even our female 400m runners are improving.

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Bovell III, Borel set sights on Rio 2016
By JOEL BAILEY Monday, March 9 2015 (T&T Newsday)

Sportsman of the Year George Bovell III & Sportswoman of the Year Cleopatra Borel aiming for Rio

SPORTSMAN AND Sportswoman of the Year 2014 George Bovell III and Cleopatra Borel are both setting their sights firmly on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Speaking on Friday night, after the First Citizens Sports Foundation’s Sports Awards at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, the 31-year-old Bovell III, asked about his plans for 2015, replied, “getting back to basics, building a great foundation for 2016, towards the Olympics. That’s what really matters.

“That’s what we all look towards, the ultimate goal,” said the lanky swim ace. “It will be nice. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t, then I wouldn’t be too upset about it.”

Looking back at his season last year, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games 200-metre individual medley bronze medallist stated, “there were some real struggles for me in 2014. The Commonwealth Games, I was over-trained. When I was in the World Cup, I was swimming very well, then I was in Asia and I got pneumonia. I did some competitions with the pneumonia.”

He continued, “some of the hardest racing I’ve done in my career just came down to will-power. The CAC was a very memorable one for me. I think I might be the first person to win three in a row - three Games, three consecutively.”

Borel, the 2014 Commonwealth Games shot put silver medallist, was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony due to a training stint in Cuba.

Her mother Marcelle Borel, who collected the trophy on behalf of her daughter, noted, “she worked hard and when you work hard, you expect good results.”

She added, “we are always cheering her on. We are her worst and her best critics. So if she’s good, we compliment her. If she’s bad, we tell her.”

About her daughter’s plans for 2015, Borel (senior) stated, “she’s looking to do her best in all events, and looking forward to 2016. So her goal is the Olympics (as well as) Pan Am Games 2015 and World (Championships).”

The Pan Am Games will take place from July 21-26 in Toronto, Canada while the World Championships will be staged in Beijing, China from August 22-30.

Sir Hilary Beckles, pro vice-chancellor and campus principal of the Cave Hill campus (Barbados) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), delivered the feature address at Friday’s ceremony.

“In the last year, at my campus in Cave Hill, we have done something historic and unique,” he revealed. “We have rolled out a Masters Degree in Sports Science, and this degree is designed to fit into the routine, movements and cultures of our athletes.”

And, in his address to the gathering, chairman of the First Citizens Sports Foundation Dr Keith Clifford highlighted the events which the Foundation undertook last year, and also mentioned that the group plans to forge partnerships with academic institutions, both local and abroad.

Hall of Famer Florrie Kelshall (hockey) was recognised at the show, while a number of sporting persons who died in 2014 were remembered, including Rodney Wilkes (power lifting), Rawle Barrow (sailing), Kevon Carter (football), Benedict Cayenne (track and field) and cyclists Clinton Grant, Hilton “Barracuda” Mitchell, Kent Luces, Roger Smart and Ronald Dickie senior.

Entertainment was provided by the husband and wife duo of Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez, who opened the show with his 2015 track “Our Time” and Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, who closed the 75-minute long ceremony with her 2015 hit “Raze”.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

By now you would or should know that George Bovell III and Cleopatra Borel were named Sports Man and Sports Woman of the Year respectively by the First Citizens Sports Foundation last Friday. For Bovell it was his second such award, 10 years apart and Borel was taking home her 4th trophy.

SPORT: PROFILE OF THIS YEAR'S SPORTS MAN AND SPORTS WOMAN OF THE YEAR:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/cpXEr31fECE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/cpXEr31fECE</a>

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James leads 68-member Carifta team
Friday, March 13 2015 (T&T Newsday)

Chelsea James, 2014 Carifta Games U18 Shot Put Gold Medalist

After a hard fought weekend of performances sixty-eight athletes and eighteen officials have been selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 44th Carifta Games to be held in St Kitts Nevis from April 3-6 at the Silver Jubliee Athletic Stadium, Bird Rock, Basseterre.

The athletes will be competing at Under 18 and Under 20 age groups. These age groups are similar to the global competitions such as the World Youth (Under 18) and World Junior (Under 20).

Two of the athletes will be returning to defend their gold medal performances from last year - Kayelle Clarke (200m Girls U-20) and Chelsea James (Shot Put). James has won gold for three years straight, twice in the under-17 age group, once at under-18, and this year she will be competing in the under-20. Akanni Hislop, one of the top 10 athletes at the 2014 First Citizens Youth Awards is one the team as well and will be competing in the Boys Under-18 100m, 200m and 4x100m events.

Hurdler Jeminise Parris will also be on the plane to St Kitts where she will ve vying for honours in the Girls Under-20 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay.

There are four other medallists from last year’s Carifta Games on this year’s team including Akidah Briggs, Portious Warren, Jonathan Farinha and Omari Benoit.

This is one of the biggest Carifta teams ever selected, and after some high quality performances over this past weekend, there are great expectations for even better results at this year’s Carifta Games.

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Daniel jumps to NCAA bronze
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 14, 2015 at 9:36 PM ECT

Deandra Daniel caps off indoor season with high jump bronze at NCAA Indoor T&F Champs

Deandra Daniel capped off a very satisfying indoor campaign with women’s high jump bronze at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships, in Arkansas, USA, on Friday. The Coppin State University junior cleared the bar at 1.87 metres, equalling her personal best in the event.

Daniel enjoyed a perfect competition up to 1.84m, going over on her first attempt at 1.73, 1.78, 1.81 and 1.84. When the bar was raised to 1.87m, she knocked it down twice but made a successful clearance third time around. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete was unable to successfully negotiate 1.90m. Gold went to Cypriot Leontia Kallenou (1.93m), a sophomore at University of Georgia, while Spain’s University of Akron senior Claudia Garcia (1.90m) picked up silver.

Late yesterday, T&T’s Deon Lendore attempted to repeat as men’s 400m champion. He went into the finals with the second fastest qualifying time after winning heat one in 45.92 seconds. Lendore’s Texas A&M University teammate, Grenadian Bralon Taplin led all qualifiers with a 45.64 run.

Texas State University sophomore Aaron George finished 15th in the men’s long jump with a 7.19 metres leap--well short of his 7.87m PR (personal record). George is an American of Trinidadian parentage.

T&T/University of Arkansas athlete, Sparkle McKnight finished fourth in heat four and 16th overall in the women’s 400m preliminaries in 54.12 seconds. The top eight advanced to the finals. A couple hours later, however, McKnight was back on the track, helping Arkansas earn gold in the women’s distance medley relay. She ran the second leg for her team, and her 52.84 seconds clocking was the fastest 400-split in the event. Arkansas returned a time of 10 minutes, 51.89 seconds.

At the NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships, in Alabama, T&T’s Kevin Roberts finished ninth in Friday’s men’s long jump event with a 7.08m leap. And in yesterday’s triple jump, the Tiffin University freshman produced a 14.51m effort to secure 12th spot.

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Lendore surrenders NCAA 400 title
...anchors Texas A&M to 4x4 gold
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 15, 2015 at 11:10 PM ECT

Deon Lendore surrendered NCAA Men 400m title but anchors his Texas A&M relay team to gold in a new COLLEGIATE RECORD of 3:02.86.

Deon Lendore surrendered his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championship men’s 400 metres title, in Arkansas, USA, late on Saturday.

Lendore, a senior at Texas A&M University, clocked 45.81 seconds to finish second in section two and fourth overall in the finals. The title went to American Vernon Norwood, the Louisiana State University (LSU) student getting home in 45.31. Lendore’s Texas A&M teammate, Grenadian Bralon Taplin picked up silver in 45.55, and United State/University of Florida athlete Najee Glass got bronze in 45.77.

While Lendore missed out on a top-three finish in the individual event, the Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler had the satisfaction of anchoring Texas A&M to men’s 4x400m gold in three minutes, 02.86 seconds. Lendore produced a 45.34 seconds split.

Sparkle McKnight ran the second leg for University of Arkansas in the women’s 4x400m relay, the T&T athlete splitting 51.79 to help her team earn silver in 3:28.70, just behind University of Texas, the winners in 3:28.48. On Friday, McKnight was part of the triumphant women’s distance medley relay team.


SPARKLING PERFORMANCE: Trinidad and Tobago’s Sparkle McKnight lifts the trophy over her head after University of Arkansas won the women’s team title at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, on Saturday night. —Photo: AP

McKnight featured in a huge Arkansas celebration on Saturday night, the school emerging as women’s team champions with a total of 63 points.

University of Oregon (46.5) and University of Georgia (37) finished second and third, respectively, while Deandra Daniel’s Coppin State University finished joint-32nd with six points. The T&T athlete earned all six points with her third-place finish in Friday’s high jump.

Lendore’s Texas A&M accumulated 33 points for fourth spot in the men’s team competition, behind champions Oregon (74), Florida (50) and Arkansas (39).

At the NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships, in Alabama, Kevin Roberts’ Tiffin University finished sixth in the men’s team competition with 28 points. Adams State University earned 45 points to capture the men’s title, while the women’s title went to University of Central Missouri (47).
Roberts, a freshman at Tiffin, finished ninth in the men’s long jump (7.08m) and 12th in the triple jump (14.51m).

At the Division 1 Championships, Daniel continued her fine run of form, earning women’s high jump bronze with an impressive 1.87m clearance.


Deandra Daniel of Coppin State jumps to NCAA bronze

“It means a lot to me to come in third,” said Daniel, in an interview on the Coppin State website www.coppinstatesports.com. “I put in the work and got the results I deserved. I am very pleased with my efforts today and I had great attempts at each height. I knew in my heart that I could do it. Jumping today I felt relaxed and great. That helped me throughout the competition.”

Daniel said she was grateful to her high jump coach at Coppin State, former T&T athlete Natoya Baird, as well as the school’s women’s track and field head coach, Alecia Shields-Gadson.

“I just want to thank God because without him I wouldn’t have been able to reach this far and accomplish any of this. Also, I want to thank my main coach Natoya for believing in me. She is the best coach and we have built a great relationship, not only as coach but as good friends. I want to thank coach Shields for her great support, and everyone else for their prayers and support. It meant a lot and it mattered.
“Finishing third feels great, but I didn’t accomplish all of my goals for indoors. I will be even better for outdoors,” Daniel warned.

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T&T’s Lendore in NCAA relay record run
Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 (T&T Guardian)

Texas A&M relay foursome of Gregory Coleman (46.52), Bralon Taplin (45.12), Shavez Hart (45.89) and T&T’s Deon Lendore, left, (45.33) cruised to victory as they toppled the collegiate record of 3:03.20 that the Aggies set in winning the 2014 SEC title. It’s the first NCAA Indoor title for A&M since winning consecutive titles in 2010 and 2011.

FAYETTEVILLE—Texas A&M men’s 4x400 metres relay achieved its second collegiate record as they won the NCAA Indoor championship in a blazing 3:02.86, the fourth fastest time ever recorded in the world, to close out the meet on Saturday evening at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

The A&M relay foursome of Gregory Coleman (46.52), Bralon Taplin (45.12), Shavez Hart (45.89) and T&T’s Deon Lendore (45.33) cruised to victory as they toppled the collegiate record of 3:03.20 that the Aggies set in winning the 2014 SEC title. It’s the first NCAA Indoor title for A&M since winning consecutive titles in 2010 and 2011.

Texas A&M men scored 33 points to place fourth in team scoring, while the women finished tied for 15th place with 14 points.

Oregon won the men’s team title with 74 points with Florida runner-up at 50. Arkansas finished third with 39 points with the Aggies in fourth at 33. Rounding out the top 10 teams were Texas Tech (31), Texas (25), LSU & TCU (19), along with Akron, Iowa State and USC tied for ninth with 16 points.

Arkansas scored 63 points to win the women’s team title over Oregon’s 46 ½ with Georgia in third at 37. The rest of the top 10 included Florida (36), Kentucky (35), Texas (33), Baylor (27), and LSU & Southern Illinois tied for ninth with 18 points. (AP)

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‘Torpedo’ targets World Relays title
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 16, 2015 at 9:33 PM ECT

FAST FOUR: Rondel Sorrillo, left, Richard "Torpedo" Thompson, Marc Burns and Keston Bledman celebrate their silver success in the men’s 4x100 metres event, at the 2014 IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: KWAME LAURENCE

Richard “Torpedo” Thompson was responsible for one of the most memorable moments at the inaugural IAAF World Relays, in Nassau, Bahamas, last year. In the men’s 4x100 metres final, the Trinidad and Tobago track star overhauled Great Britain’s Dwain Chambers on the anchor leg, turning bronze into silver.

“It’s always a blessing getting the stick around in a relay,” Thompson told the Express, “and an even bigger blessing when we win a medal.

“However, I think any athlete would admit that it’s a bit more fun when you ‘walk someone down’. That race indicated to me that I was back in really good shape because Chambers is a good sprinter. More importantly, it indicated to the world that T&T’s 4x100 team was back as we had a rough year in 2013.”

For the “Torpedo”, the World Relays experience would have been special even if he had left Nassau with no precious metal to his name.

“It was great. I found it really cool that they had us come through a tunnel to introduce us team by team...almost like they do in wrestling. It added more hype for the athletes and the fans. The meet itself was well attended and the fans were very active cheering every country on.”

T&T emerged from the 2014 IAAF World Relays with three medals. In addition to the men’s 4x100m silver captured by Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Rondel Sorrillo and Thompson, there was bronze for both the women’s 4x100m quartet and the men’s 4x400m team. T&T earned 19 points at the two-day meet to finish sixth—an excellent showing for a nation with a population of just 1.3 million.

Thompson was particularly pleased with the success of the women’s sprint relay combination of Kamaria Durant, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Kai Selvon.

“They’ve had a terrible streak of bad luck over the past few years getting the stick around. Not only did they get the stick around this time, but they won their first global medal. That’s a great sign for when Kelly-Ann (Baptiste) and Semoy (Hackett) are thrown back into the mix.”

Baptiste completed a 21-month drug ban in January, while Hackett will be eligible to compete in May following a 28-month doping ban.

In Nassau last year, Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Jarrin Solomon finished third in the men’s 4x400m final in a national record time of two minutes, 58.34 seconds.

“For a number of years,” said Thompson, “the 4x100 men carried the rest of the team on our shoulders. We’ve expanded beyond that and have shown that T&T are beyond capable in different events and gender. The men’s 4x4 has been very consistent in the last three years and the women have stepped up significantly as well.”

The triple Olympic medallist is anticipating more success for Team T&T at the 2015 IAAF World Relays, scheduled for May 2 and 3.

“I don’t expect anyone to be in peak shape in May, especially since World Champs is in late August. However, I know that we are a hard-working bunch, and will be showing up there in good enough shape to give a good account of ourselves.

“The goal,” he continued, “is always to try to win, but I think that if we can leave with a medal in every event that we enter, that would be a solid showing.”

Thompson said there needs to be a permanent place on the international athletics calendar for the IAAF World Relays.

“Apart from the meet itself being a huge success, I had a lot of fun away from the track. Bahamas is a beautiful island so any chance I get I’ll be there. I’ll be there this year, God spare life, health and strength.”

Here is link to thread for last year's World Relays in the Bahamas if you wish to view a recap:
2014 IAAF World Relays: Sat.24th & Sun.25th May, Nassau, Bahamas (videos added)

[Aviator]

I hope that he(Richard) is able to maintain and continuously improve upon his form post world relays and doesn't boil down like bhaji like last year.

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Cabara, Stewart win in US
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 17, 2015 at 9:41 PM ECT

States Side: Holland Cabara wins 100m & Theon Lewis 3rd in 400m in California

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Holland Cabara captured the men’s 100 metres title at the Mt SAC 10 Way outdoor track and field meet, in California, last Saturday. The College of the Sequoias freshman stopped the clock at 10.53 seconds, getting to the line just ahead of American Cravon Gillespie, the runner-up in 10.54.

Another T&T/Sequoias athlete, Theon Lewis produced a 47.77 seconds run to secure third spot in the men’s 400m.


FORMER MORGAN STATE STANDOUT: Emmanuel Stewart

In North Carolina, former Morgan State University standout Emmanuel Stewart claimed two titles at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawk Invitational.

Stewart was the class of the field in the men’s discus, the T&T field athlete throwing 49.44 metres for a huge cushion on second-placed Jeff Jordan of the United States. Jordan produced a 44.31m effort.

Stewart, who is now an assistant coach at Morgan State, was also triumphant in the men’s hammer throw, landing the implement 53.63m. And in the javelin, he finished third with a 54.59m throw.

Late last month, in Arizona, Denzel Ramirez finished sixth in the BMO Harris Bank Phoenix Half-Marathon. The T&T distance runner completed the 13.1-mile course in one hour, 11 minutes, 19 seconds. Americans swept the top three places. Danny Mercado led the charge, getting home in 1:04:59 to secure the easiest of victories. Andrew Benford finished second in 1:07:24, while third spot went to Xavier Rodriguez (1:09:04).

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Solomon opens in style
Ayanna Alexander strikes gold
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created:    Mar 22, 2015 at 11:48 PM ECT

Outdoor Season Openers: Jarrin Solomon wins 400m & Ayanna Alexander wins Triple Jump

Jarrin Solomon opened his 2015 outdoor campaign in fine style at the Willie Williams Classic, in Arizona, USA, on Saturday. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete captured the men’s 400 metres title with a 46.07 seconds clocking.
Central Arizona College freshman Hezekiel Romeo threw 17.30 metres to finish fifth in the men’s shot put.

At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Springtime meet, Ayanna Alexander produced a 13.57 metres effort in the women’s triple jump to strike gold. The impressive season opener earned Alexander fifth spot on the 2015 world outdoor performance list.

Kayelle Clarke was also in winners’ row, the New Mexico Junior College sprinter topping the women’s 200m field in 24.16 seconds. Another T&T athlete, South Plains College student Domonique Williams, clocked 24.50 to secure fourth spot. UTEP’s Aeisha McDavid finished seventh in the women’s javelin with a 36.41m throw and tenth overall in the 100m hurdles in 14.72 seconds.

At the Baldy Castillo Invitational, in Arizona, Jamol James won the men’s 100m dash in 10.47 seconds. The Arizona State University student also competed in the long jump, finishin­g third with a 7.44m leap—a new personal best.

At the McMurry War Hawk Classic, in Texas, Western Texas College athlete Marissa Gale emerged victorious in the women’s 400m in 56.66 seconds. Another T&T runner, Jessica James, clocked 56.91 to finish second.

In California, Theon Lewis was the class of the Hornet Invitational men’s 400m field, the College of the Sequoias freshman winning in 47.83 seconds. Another T&T/Sequoias athlete, Ohdel James finished sixth overall in 48.47. Academy of Art University freshman Asa Guevara was seventh fastest in 48.67. And in the men’s 100m dash, Sequoias sprinter Ashron Sobers was 19th overall in 10.94 seconds.

At the Wake Forest Open, in North Carolina, Emmanuel Stewart snatched silver in the men’s discus with a 53.41m throw. In the hammer throw, he produced a 47.52m effort to finish 10th.

At the Texas Christian University (TCU) Invitational, Baylor University senior Dannielle Davis was second in the women’s long jump with a 5.37m leap. She finished fifth in the 100m hurdles in a wind-assisted 14.40 second­s.

Abilene Christian University (ACU) sophomore Sterlen Paul returned a time of four minutes, 09.66 seconds for 15th spot overall in the men’s 1,500m. Aaron Leung Woo-Gabriel was 19th in the men’s 100m, the University of Texas at Arlington senior clocking 11.16. And Paul’s ACU teammate, Osei Alleyne-Forte was 24th in the men’s 200m in 23.38.

In Pennsylvania, Kiersten LaRoche bagged Philadelphia Classic women’s 200m bronze with a 25.81 seconds run. In the javelin, the Temple University student threw 32.65m to finish 16th.

At the Texas Southern University (TSU) Relays, Wiley College athletes, Quinn-Lee Ralph and Dan-Neil Telesford finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in the men’s 200m finals, clocking 21.70 seconds and 21.72.

Ralph was fourth fastest in the 100m preliminaries, getting to the line in 10.99. However, the meet was halted prematurely on Saturday due to inclement weather, and the championship race was not contested. In the men’s 400m, Wiley College’s Justin Maloney finished 10th overall in 49.40 seconds, while Telesford was 11th in 49.60.

At the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Ram Invite, University of Delaware junior Chelsi Campbell finished second in heat two and seventh overall in the women’s 400m in 58.04 seconds.

In Florida, Trishelle Leacock clocked a wind-aided 25.23 seconds for eighth spot overall in the Hurricane Invitational women’s 200m event.
The University of Miami freshman was ninth in the 100m in 12.18.

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Story Created: Mar 27, 2015 at 9:09 PM ECT (T&T Express)

Lalonde Gordon shows off his USA Track & Field New York Association 2014 Open Male Athlete of the Year award, at last Friday’s awards banquet, in New York, USA. Last year, Gordon bagged men’s 400 metres bronze for Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The New York-based quartermiler is a double Olympic bronze medallist. —Photo courtesy ADRIAN CRICHLOW

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McKnight wins 400m at Texas Relays
March 28th, 2015 12:04am (TrackAlerts.com)

Sparkle McKnight, T&T and Arkansa University athlete (400m/400m Hurdles)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 7 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team added two more titles Friday at the 88th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin. The Razorbacks picked up wins in the sprint-medley relay and from Sparkle McKnight in the 400-meter hurdles. The win in the relay event also brought a school and meet record. Arkansas will close out the weekend Saturday afternoon with competition in the 4x400-meter relay and pole vault.

Running in the second section of the timed final, the quartet of Brianna Swinton, Taylor Ellis-Watson, Daina Harper and Chrishuna Williams combined for a meet- and school-record time of 3:42.36 to win the sprint-medley relay. With their time, the Razorbacks broke the previous school of 3:44.40 set in 2010 and bettered the Texas Relays meet record of 3:43.79 set by LSU in 2012. The three fastest times in school history have all been run at the Texas Relays.

Having posted the fastest qualifying time in Thursday’s prelims, McKnight charged past the other runners down the back stretch to win the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 56.70. She qualified for Friday’s final with a time of 58.21 in the prelims. The win caps McKnight’s return to the event after redshirting during the 2014 outdoor season.

With their victories in the sprint-medley relay and 400-meter hurdles, the Arkansas women have now won 20 Texas Relays title in program history and their second and third of the weekend. Alex Gochenour opened the weekend with a win in the heptathlon.Friday’s win marks the Razorbacks’ third title in the sprint-medley relay having previously won the event in 2007 and 2011. McKnight’s win was Arkansas’ first in the event.

The ‘A’ section of the pole vault featuring NCAA indoor champion Sandi Morris will start Saturday at noon (CT) and the invitational section of the 4x400-meter relay is set to close out the four-day event. In its program history, Arkansas has won three Texas Relays pole vault titles (2010-12) and one 4x400-meter title (2010). A live broadcast of day four will air from 1-5 p.m. on the Longhorn Network.

The outdoor home opener is also scheduled for this week with the Arkansas Spring Invitational which will be held March 27-28 at John McDonnell Field. After Friday’s hammer throw, the competition begins Saturday with field events at 10:30 a.m. and running events at 1:30 p.m.

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Ahye in windy scorcher
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 29, 2015 at 11:53 PM ECT

Wins twice in Texas: Michelle-Lee Ahye

Trinidad and Tobago sprint star Michelle-Lee Ahye won twice in Texas, USA, on the weekend.

At the Texas Relays, Ahye scorched the track in a wind-assisted 10.87 seconds for a commanding victory in the women’s invitational 100 metres dash. She was pushed to the line by a 3.7 metres per second following wind—well above the 2.0 legal limit. American Jessica Young was a distant second in 11.13, while third spot went to Nigeria’s Dominique Duncan (11.34).

Another T&T sprinter, Reyare Thomas finished sixth in the same race in 12.84 seconds.

In the university/college women’s 400m hurdles, University of Arkansas senior Sparkle McKnight topped the field in 56.70 seconds.

Texas State University sophomore, Aaron George produced a wind-aided 7.15 metres leap to finish 11th in the university/college men’s long jump.

And Kayelle Clarke clocked 11.98 seconds for 32nd spot overall in the university/college women’s 100m. The New Mexico Junior College sprinter will represent T&T at the Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis, on the weekend.

Ahye was also victorious at the Bobcat Invitational. She won the women’s 100m dash in 11.36 seconds, while Thomas was sixth overall in 11.65.

Dan-Neil Telesford was second fastest in the men’s 200m, the T&T athlete clocking a windy 20.98 seconds. His Wiley College teammate, Quinn-Lee Ralph finished eighth overall in 21.65.

Moriba Morain got to the line in 10.62 seconds to finish first in heat three and third overall in the men’s 100m. There was bronze too for Sterlen Paul, the Abilene Christian University student finishing third in the men’s 800m in one minute, 53.39 seconds.

In California, Holland Cabara stopped the clock at 10.47 seconds to win the Fresno Pacific Sunbird Open men’s 100m dash. Another T&T/College of the Sequoias sprinter, Ashron Sobers was third in 10.68.

Cabara won the 200m in 21.15 seconds to complete the sprint double. His Sequoias teammate, Theon Lewis was second in 21.65, while Sobers (22.13) finished seventh.

And Ohdel James, who is also a Sequoias student, struck gold in the men’s 400m in 47.81 seconds.

In Maryland, Deandra Daniel won the Coppin State Twilight women’s long jump event with a 5.20m leap. Her Coppin State University teammate, Mark London finished second in the men’s 1500m in 4:08.72. And another T&T/Coppin State athlete, Haysean Cowie-Clarke was 11th overall in the men’s 400m in 54.88 seconds.

At the Florida State Relays, Emanuel Mayers clocked 51.46 seconds to earn silver in the men’s 400m hurdles.

Trishelle Leacock was seventh in the women’s 100m dash in 12.64 seconds. The University of Miami freshman also competed in the 200m, finishing 10th overall in 25.46.

At the Puma Outdoor meet, in Arizona, Mikel Thomas finished second in the men’s 200m in 21.47 seconds.

And in Alabama, Peli Alzola was fourth overall in the Crimson Tide Invitational women’s 200m. The Western Kentucky University sprinter got home in 24.57 seconds.

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James 3rd in Arizona dash
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 31, 2015 at 8:21 PM ECT

Jamol James bronze in Arizona State

Jamol James bagged bronze in the Arizona State Pac-12/Big Ten Invitational men’s 100 metres dash, in Arizona, USA, on Saturday. The Arizona State University student got to the line in 10.51 seconds.

American Leon Powell secured victory in the event, stopping the clock at 10.43.

James also competed in the long jump, the 22-year-old Trinidad and Tobago athlete finishing fourth with a 7.30 metres leap. Latvia’s Nikita Pankins was the class of the field, winning with a 7.37m jump.

In his 100m outdoor opener, two weekends ago, James was victorious at the Baldy Castillo Invitational with a 10.47 seconds run. He was also on show in the long jump, finishing third with a personal best (PB) effort of 7.44m.

James’ 100m PB is 10.17 seconds—a clocking he produced in finishing sixth at the 2012 T&T Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

At the Maryland Invitational, on the weekend, Temple University’s Kiersten LaRoche disturbed the sand at 4.79m to finish ninth in the women’s long jump. In the 800m, LaRoche was 25th overall in two minutes, 36.03 seconds.

And in North Carolina, University of Delaware junior Chelsi Campbell got home in 58.28 seconds for 36th spot in the Raleigh Relays women’s 400m event.

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Ahye leads the world
T&T sprint star clocks 10.97 into headwind
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 4, 2015 at 9:04 PM ECT

Michelle-Lee Ahye shaping up for a good 2015 Outdoor Season

Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye shot to the top of the 2015 world performance list in the women’s 100 metres dash when she stopped the clock at 10.97 seconds at the Florida Relays, in the United States, on Friday.

Ahye produced the impressive clocking, running into a 2.5 metres per second headwind. Jamaica’s Remona Burchell finished second in 11.04.

In another women’s 100m race, T&T/Western Kentucky University sprinter Peli Alzola finished ninth in 12.02 seconds.

Rondel Sorrillo finished in a dead heat for first in the men’s 200m “B” race. Both the T&T sprinter and his American rival, Just’N Thymes clocked 20.46 seconds. In the 100m “A” race, Sorrillo was second in 10.17.

Another T&T sprinter, Keston Bledman clocked 21.05 seconds for second spot in the men’s 200m “D” race.

Emanuel Mayers got home in 50.63 seconds to secure fourth spot in the men’s 400m hurdles. In the women’s 400m hurdles, Janeil Bellille clocked 58.41 to finish fifth.

Mikel Thomas was fifth in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.47 seconds. Another T&T hurdler, Wayne Davis II finished ninth in 13.86.

Alena Brooks returned a time of two minutes, 08.42 seconds for fifth spot in the women’s 800m. In the men’s 800m “F” race, Coppin State University’s Mark London was fifth in 1:52.02.

And in the women’s 400m “D” race, Romona Modeste completed her lap of the track in 54.30 seconds to secure seventh spot.

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Solomon stars in New Mexico
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 9, 2015 at 9:17 PM ECT (T&T Express)

CLOCKED 45.62: Jarrin Solomon

Jarrin Solomon topped the men’s 400 metres field at the Tailwind Open, in New Mexico, USA, on Saturday. The Trinidad and Tobago quarter-miler stopped the clock at 45.62 seconds.

In the men’s 100m dash, Adams State University student, Micah Ballantyne finished sixth in a wind-assisted 10.65 seconds.

At the Stanford Invitational, in California, Texas A&M University senior, Deon Lendore struck gold in the men’s 200m in 21.04 seconds. In the 200m “B” race, College of the Sequoias freshman, Holland Cabara was third in 21.52.

Sparkle McKnight captured fourth spot in the women’s 400m hurdles in one minute, 00.22 seconds. The University of Arkansas student clocked 55.17 seconds for eighth spot in the 400m. And in the 200m “B” race, McKnight was sixth in 24.79.

College of the Sequoias freshman, Ohdel James got home in 49.40 seconds to finish seventh in the men’s 400m “B” race.

In Texas, South Plains College student, Domonique Williams grabbed Texas Tech Open women’s 800m gold in 2:10.78. Western Texas College sprinter, John Mark Constantine bagged men’s 100m bronze in a windy 10.41 seconds. His teammate, Marissa Gale was eighth overall in the women’s 200m in a windy 24.45. And in the men’s 400m, Abilene Christian University’s Osei Alleyne-Forte finished 18th overall in 48.69 seconds.

At the Savannah State Twilight meet, in Georgia, Deandra Daniel won the women’s high jump, the Coppin State University athlete clearing the bar at 1.77 metres. Daniel also competed in the long jump, finishing sixth with a 5.19m leap.

Coppin State’s Mark London was fifth in the men’s 400m in 49.72 seconds. And his teammate, Haysean Cowie-Clarke finished second in the 200m “C” race in 23.01.

At the Florida Relays, Ayanna Alexander was second in the women’s triple jump with a 13.34m effort. And in the women’s high jump, Daniel cleared 1.78m to finish tenth.

At the ACCAC #1 meet, in Arizona, Ruebin Walters won the men’s 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles events, clocking 13.85 seconds and 52.85. His Central Arizona College teammate, Hezekiel Romeo finished second in the men’s shot put, throwing the iron ball 17.02m.

Another T&T/Central Arizona athlete, Akila McShine was third in both the women’s 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles, clocking 15.88 seconds and 1:13.17. In the 100m dash, McShine finished eighth in 13.67.

At the Bob Kahn Invite, in Ohio, Kevin Roberts won the men’s triple jump with a 14.15m effort. The Tiffin University freshman also competed in the 400m event, finishing eighth overall in 57.40 seconds.

In Texas, Wiley College’s Quinn-Lee Ralph grabbed Carl Kight Invitational men’s 100m gold in a wind-aided 10.54 seconds. In the 200m, T&T/Wiley College athletes finished one-two, Dan-Neil Telesford clocking 21 seconds flat to get the better of Ralph (21.25).

At another meet in Texas, Texas State University’s Aaron George secured bronze in the Baylor Invitational men’s long jump with a windy 7.46m leap. His best legal jump in the competition was 7.28m.

Baylor University’s Dannielle Davis finished ninth in the women’s 100m hurdles (14.26 seconds) and 11th in the long jump (wind-assisted 5.38m). Her only legal leap was 4.58m. University of Texas at Arlington student, Aaron Leung Woo-Gabriel was 17th in the men’s 100m (11.18) and 22nd in the 200m (23.04).

At the Colonial Relays, in Virginia, Kiersten LaRoche finished 17th in the women’s javelin with a 32.73m throw. And in the 100m hurdles, the Temple University senior was 20th overall in a windy 14.75 seconds.

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Thomas 2nd in Arizona, Lendore trails Kirani
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 12, 2015 at 11:34 PM ECT (T&T Express)

COPPED SECOND: Mikel Thomas

Mikel Thomas picked up silver in the open men’s 110 metres hurdles, at the Sun Angel Track Classic, in Arizona, USA, on Saturday.

The Trinidad and Tobago hurdler clocked 13.57 seconds to finish behind American Aries Merritt, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder getting to the line in 13.29. T&T/Central Arizona College athlete, Ruebin Walters was first in his section and third overall in 13.82.


COPPED THIRD: Deon Lendore

T&T’s Deon Lendore got home in 45.18 seconds in the premier men’s 400m. The clocking earned the Texas A&M University senior third spot in the event.

The 2012 Olympic champion, Kirani James ran a world-leading 44.31 to top the field in his 2015 opener, beating his fellow-Grenadian Bralon Taplin into second spot. Taplin, a student at Texas A&M, clocked a personal best 44.89.

Hezekiel Romeo secured seventh spot in the premier men’s shot put. The T&T/Central Arizona field athlete threw the iron ball 17.00 metres.

Arizona State University junior, Jamol James produced a 6.97m leap to finish ninth in the premier men’s long jump.

In the open men’s 400m, College of the Sequoias athletes, Ohdel James and Theon Lewis were ninth and 10th fastest, respectively, clocking 47.78 seconds and 47.93. University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) student, Aeisha McDavid was ninth in the open women’s long jump (5.16m) and 24th overall in the open women’s 200m (25.98).

Marissa Gale earned women’s 400m silver at the Wes Kittley Invitational, in Texas. The Western Texas College sophomore completed her lap of the track in 54.55 seconds. Another T&T athlete, Jessica James was fourth in 55.01.

Gale also competed in the women’s 200m event, clocking a wind-assisted 24.51 seconds to finish fourth, one spot ahead of South Plains College student Domonique Williams (24.54).

Abilene Christian University (ACU) sophomore Sterlen Paul bagged bronze in the men’s 800m in one minute, 54.55 seconds. And another ACU student, Osei Alleyne-Forte was 17th overall in the men’s 400m in 49.29 seconds.

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BLAZING OPENERS
Thompson, Bledman, Cedenio sizzle in US
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 19, 2015 at 10:32 PM ECT

FAST STARTS: T&T sprinters, Richard "Torpedo" Thompson, left, and Keston Bledman.

Richard “Torpedo” Thompson, Keston Bledman and Machel Cedenio recorded fast openers at meets in the United States, on Saturday.
Competing in the 100 metres dash for the first time this season, Thompson stopped the clock at 10.04 seconds for victory in section one at the Alumni Gold meet, in Louisiana.

With that clocking, Thompson shot into second spot on the 2015 world performance list, behind American Trayvon Bromell (10.02). Another Trinidad and Tobago athlete, Texas State University student Aaron George was seventh in section two and 14th overall in the Alumni Gold men’s 100m in a wind-assisted 10.64.

Thompson had a busy day at the Alumni Gold meet, finishing fifth in the 200m in a windy 21.01 seconds, and running the second leg for third-placed Tiger Olympians in the 4x100m relay. Thompson’s team clocked 40.03.

Steve Waithe was also in winners’ row in Louisiana. Appropriately, the T&T/Pennsylvania State University athlete struck gold in the LeJuan Simon men’s triple jump event with a wind-aided 15.73m effort. Waithe’s best legal jump in the competition was 15.45m.

Simon was a T&T athlete, the highpoint of his career coming in 2004 when he represented the country at the Athens Olympics. The former Louisiana State University (LSU) student died in 2008 at the age of 27 as a result of complications from primary pulmonary hypertension.

At the National Training Center (NTC) Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet 1, in Florida, Bledman bolted to victory in the men’s 100m dash in a windy 9.94 seconds. In the preliminary round, the T&T sprinter clocked a windy 9.97 in his first 100m race for 2015. He won the heat, advancing to the final as the fastest qualifier.


T&T Quarter-milers Machel Cedenio and Deon Lendore now 6th & 7th on 2015 World List.

Cedenio was on fire in his 400m season-opener, the 2014 world junior champion winning the men’s one-lap race in a personal best 45.09 seconds—good enough for sixth spot on the 2015 world performance list.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste got home in a wind-assisted 22.91 seconds to bag bronze in the women’s 200m. And Wayne Davis II topped the men’s 110m hurdles “B” race in 13.66.

In Texas, Deon Lendore clocked 45.14 seconds to grab gold in the Michael Johnson Classic men’s 400m event. The Texas A&M University quartermiler is seventh on this year’s world performance list.

Another T&T athlete, Janeil Bellille finished eighth in the women’s 400m in 55.08.

At the Georgia Tech Invitational, Emanuel Mayers won the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.39 seconds, and Ade Alleyne-Forte was second in the men’s 400m “B” race in 47.59.

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Burns starts solid
T&T sprinter wins Alabama 100 in 10.17
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 20, 2015 at 8:44 PM ECT

Won in Alabama: Marc Burns

Marc Burns produced a solid run at his first outdoor meet this season. The experienced Trinidad and Tobago sprinter clocked 10.17 seconds to win the War Eagle Invitational men’s 100 metres dash, in Alabama, USA, on Saturday.

In the preliminary round, Burns won heat three in a wind-assisted 10.21 to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier.

Renny Quow also opened his 2015 outdoor campaign with gold. The T&T athlete won the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Invitational men’s 200m event in 20.78 seconds. South Plains College student Jereem Richards clocked 21.18 to finish first in section two and third overall.

Another T&T/South Plains athlete, Domonique Williams was fourth in the women’s 200m in 23.92 seconds.

UTEP’s Aeisha McDavid finished fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles in a wind-aided 14.20 seconds and fifth in the high jump with a 1.52 metres clearance. And South Plains sprinter Aaliyah Telesford secured fifth spot in the women’s 100m dash in 11.93 seconds.

In Maryland, Deandra Daniel won the Morgan State Legacy women’s high jump with a 1.87m clearance, equalling her personal best. The Coppin State University student also competed in the long jump, finishing sixth with a 5.57m leap.

Emmanuel Stewart established a new national record in the men’s hammer throw, landing the implement 55.11m to finish second. He won the discus with a 50.90m throw.

Temple University’s Kiersten LaRoche got home in 14.81 seconds to finish 11th overall in the women’s 100m hurdles. Coppin State’s Haysean Cowie-Clarke was 14th fastest in the men’s 100m in 10.94 and 35th in the 200m in 22.79. University of Delaware junior, Chelsi Campbell produced a 25.53 seconds run for 20th spot overall in the women’s 200m. And in the 400m, Campbell was 21st in 58.20.

At the Mt SAC Relays, in California, Ayanna Alexander secured silver in the women’s triple jump, her 13.83m effort earning her third spot on the 2015 world outdoor performance list.

Mikel Thomas was also impressive, the T&T hurdler snapping up silver in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.32 seconds. He is sixth on the 2015 world list. The clocking was the second fastest of Thomas’ career, behind his 13.19 national record.

Jarrin Solomon secured second spot in the men’s 400m in 45.86 seconds. In the women’s 400m hurdles, Josanne Lucas got home in 57.24 seconds to finish first in section two and fourth overall. Lucas was also fourth fastest in the college/open 100m hurdles, the T&T athlete getting to the line in 13.54.

Magnolia Howell clocked 55.94 seconds for 11th spot overall in the women’ 400m. In the college/open men’s 400m, College of the Sequoias students, Ohdel James and Theon Lewis were 24th and 31st, respectively, clocking 48.09 and 48.30. And in the college/open women’s 100m, Western Kentucky University sprinter Peli Alzola was 31st fastest in 11.86 seconds.

At the Ross Black Open, in New Mexico, Kayelle Clarke bagged bronze in the women’s 100m, the New Mexico Junior College student clocking 11.75 seconds.

In Oklahoma, Osei Alleyne-Forte was fifth fastest in the John Jacobs Invitational men’s 400m event in 47.49 seconds. His Abilene Christian University teammate, Sterlen Paul was 10th in the men’s 800m in one minute, 53.44 seconds.

In the women’s 200m, Missouri State University’s Kadisha Francois was 15th overall in 25.11 seconds, finishing one spot ahead of another T&T athlete, Jessica James (25.34). And in the 100m dash, Francois was 16th in 12.64.

At the Georgia Tech Invitational, Tiffin University’s Kevin Roberts finished sixth in the men’s long jump with a 7.07m leap.

In Texas, Dannielle Davis produced a 5.58m effort to finish 12th in the Michael Johnson Classic women’s long jump. The Baylor University senior clocked 14.30 seconds for 20th spot overall in the 100m hurdles.

University of Texas at Arlington sprinter, Aaron Leung Woo-Gabriel was 17th in the men’s 200m in 22.75 seconds and 30th in the 100m in 11.25.

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Coming back strong
By Garth Wattley garth.wattley@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 21, 2015 at 9:40 PM ECT

Still going strong: Marc Burns

There seems to be some life left in Marc Burns’ legs.

It was good to see that even at what one might consider the veterans stage of his career, T&T’s most senior sprinter can still finish at the head of the field as he did on the weekend in the USA.

Recent years have not been kind to him with injury, and people like Richard Thompson and Keston Bledman are now the ones expected to carry more of the load in the sprints, and especially in the relays, where T&T have had more success at big games over the last decade or so.

But T&T’s success at 4x100 level has had much to do with the presence of Burns.

On his CV, he counts three World Championships relay silver medals from the meets in Edmonton (2001), Helsinki (2005) and Berlin (2009), and Olympic silver behind the unstoppable Jamaicans in Beijing in 2008 and a bronze by virtue of a disqualification at London in 2012.

As an individual, Burns also has a 100 metres bronze medal from the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. And while there is no such hardware to show from his runs at Olympics and World Championships, Burns has consistently made finals.

A steady, stable presence in T&T sprinting is what the 32-year-old has been.

Ato Boldon revitalised the sprints with his bagful of 100 and 200 medals at Olympics and World Championships, and Darrell Brown with his World Champs silver in 2003 and Thompson with his Olympic silver in 2008 have momentarily hit the heights that Boldon used to reach with regularity.

But neither of that pair has kept to a standard the way Burns has. In some ways, he is similar to the Kittitian Kim Collins, the man who beat Brown to gold at the Paris World Championships. Without a doubt, Collins has proved himself a cut above, keeping himself free of serious injury and being able to mix it up with his much younger contemporaries, even now, at age 39. As recently as 2013, Collins did a personal best in the 100m of 9.97. That should be inspiration for Burns; that he can still do big things even though he is inching towards his mid-thirties.

Times certainly have changed

Used to be that a sprinter would be looking to walk away from the track after he crossed 30. But Linford Christie winning Olympic gold in Barcelona at age 32 forced a re-take on conventional wisdom. And with the science of sport being at its peak in this era, and with more money and opportunities to compete being available to athletes nowadays, there is much incentive for the power runners to keep going.

Don’t know what his career goals are at this stage, but if Burns soldiers on, he would continue to be an asset to the relay squad, and to the younger athletes. He has seen the eras change on the track for T&T and internationally. He has run with the Boldons and the Maurice Greenes; with Justin Gatlin before his drugs ban, and with Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake and a rejuvenated Gatlin.

You cannot train to acquire such experience and the big race know-how that comes from lining up with the best in the sport in varying conditions over a prolonged period of time.

The weekend news that triggered these thoughts about Burns and Collins also had me thinking nostalgically about a cricketing name on the comeback trail.

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Bledman leads the world
Baptiste sizzles in comeback century
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 25, 2015 at 9:17 PM ECT (T&T Express)

CLOCKED 10.01: Keston Bledman

Keston Bledman bolted to the top of the 2015 world performance list when he scorched the track in 10.01 seconds for a convincing victory in the Tom Jones Memorial men’s 100 metres dash, in Florida, USA, on Friday.

The Trinidad and Tobago track star finished well ahead of his closest challenger, American Marvin Bracy securing second spot in 10.11.

Two Saturdays ago, also in Florida, Bledman ran his first 100m race for the season, clocking a wind-assisted 9.97 seconds. He returned to the track later in the day for victory in the final in a windy 9.94.

On Friday, the wind cooperated with Bledman, and he produced the sixth fastest legal time of his career.

Another T&T sprinter, Richard “Torpedo” Thompson is third on the 2015 world performance list at 10.04, behind Bledman (10.01) and American Trayvon Bromell (10.02).

Kelly-Ann Baptiste dived under 11 seconds in her first 100m outing since the completion of a 21-month doping ban, in January.

Baptiste won the Tom Jones Memorial women’s century in 10.98 seconds, the clocking earning her fourth spot on the 2015 world performance list. Jamaican Elaine Thompson and American Jenna Prandini are joint-first at 10.92, while third spot is occupied by another T&T sprinter, Michelle-Lee Ahye, who clocked 10.97 seconds on April 2.

At the Penn Relays, in Pennsylvania, St Augustine Secondary student Portious Warren seized silver in the high school girls’ shot put championship. The 2015 Carifta Games under-20 champion threw the iron ball 14.69 metres.

Coppin State University’s Deandra Daniel finished sixth in the college women’s high jump with a 1.74m clearance. Steve Waithe was eighth in the college men’s triple jump, the Pennsylvania State University student disturbing the sand at 15.41m.

Andre Marcano clocked 10.95 seconds for ninth spot in the Olympic Development men’s 100m dash. Toco Secondary’s Terrel Paul was 15th in the high school boys’ triple jump with a 13.54m effort.

St Benedict’s College student, Iley Bruce was 22nd in the high school boys’ 3,000m in nine minutes, 36.71 seconds. And Temple University’s Kiersten LaRoche produced a wind-aided 5.07m jump to finish 48th in the college women’s long jump.

Bishop’s High School, Tobago students, Ako Hislop, Akanni Hislop, Aaron Lewis and Dwight St Hillaire teamed up for eighth spot in the high school boys’ 4x100m small schools event in 42.48 seconds.

Queen’s Royal College emerged as the best of the T&T schools in the high school boys’ 4x400m event, Jesse Frederick, Keivonne Alexander, Elijah Smith and Jacob St Clair teaming up for fourth spot in their section in 3:21.96.

St Francois Girls College was the most impressive of the T&T schools in the high school girls’ 4x100m event. Jeneil Morris, Kadesha Prescott, Jeminise Parris and Thyla-Marie Scott teamed up for 24th spot overall in the large schools category in 49.80 seconds.

In the high school girls’ 4x400m, the Bishop Anstey High School combination of Kafi Ottley, Deleth Charles, Je’Risa James and Jeunice Maxime returned a time of 4:04.11 to finish fourth in their section.

Deon Lendore anchored his university, Texas A&M to silver in the college men’s 4x400m championship of America in 3:04.99. He also anchored Texas A&M to silver in the college men’s 4x100m championship of America in 39.56 seconds.

In the masters men’s 65 and older 100m dash, Terrance Skinner finished third in 13.87 seconds. And in the masters men’s 55 and older 100m, Wayne Marcano was fifth in 13.10.

University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) finished 26th in the college men’s 4x200m in 1:29.65, 33rd in the college men’s sprint medley (3:41.15), 37th in the college women’s 4x200m (1:43.66), and 49th in the college men’s 4x400m (3:25.50).

At the Drake Relays, in Iowa, Arizona State University junior Jamol James finished 10th in the men’s long jump with a 7.25m leap. And Baylor University senior, Dannielle Davis was 22nd overall in the women’s 100m hurdles in 14.61 seconds.

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Ahye flies in windy 200
Victory too for Bellille
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 26, 2015 at 8:48 PM ECT (T&T Express)

Michelle-Lee Ahye

Michelle-Lee Ahye blazed the track in a wind-aided 22.01 seconds for a huge victory in the Bobcat Classic women’s 200 metres, in Texas, USA, on Saturday.

The clocking is the fastest time in the world this year and the fastest ever recorded by a female athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. However, it will not be recognised as a national record since the following wind was 2.9 metres per second—above the 2.0 legal limit.

Allison Peter finished a distant second, the United States Virgin Islands athlete getting to the line in 23.28.

Another T&T sprinter, Reyare Thomas was second in section two and fourth overall in 23.47 seconds.

Janeil Bellille struck gold in the women’s 400m, the T&T athlete completing her lap of the track in 52.95 seconds. Jessica James clocked 55.44 to secure ninth spot overall.

Texas State University student, Aaron George produced a wind-assisted 7.40 metres effort for fourth spot in the men’s long jump. His best legal leap in the competition was 7.38m.

Domonique Williams topped the women’s 400m field, at the Western Texas A&M University Open Twilight meet. The South Plains College student clocked 53.08 seconds. Another T&T athlete, Western Texas College’s Marissa Gale finished second in 54.97. New Mexico Junior College athlete, Kayelle Clarke was fourth overall in 56.47.

John Mark Constantine bagged men’s 100m bronze, the Western Texas College sprinter getting home in 10.52 seconds.

Jereem Richards was fourth overall in the men’s 400m in 47.85 seconds. And his South Plains teammate, Aaliyah Telesford clocked 12.04 for fifth spot overall in the women’s 100m.

At the Brigham Young University (BYU) Robison Invitational, in Utah, Marsha Mark-Baird won the women’s long jump with a 5.90m leap. She was third in the 100m hurdles in 14.52 seconds, and fifth in the javelin with a 41.10m throw.

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St. Clair and Hislop in World Youth Top Ten
by Clayton Clarke (sportscoretobago@gmail.com)

Jacob St. Clair-number 3 on the World Youth 400m rankings.
http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/400-metres/outdoor/men/youth/2015
(Photo courtesy-Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, THA).

Double Carifta silver medallist Jacob St. Clair is ranked at number three in the boys 400m in the latest IAAF World Youth (Under 18) Performance list for 2015. St. Clair is third best following his 46.73 pb run in taking second in the boys under 18 400m at 44th Carifta Games in Basseterre, St. Kitts on April 4.

Ahead of the Queen’s Royal College student is Jamaican Chrstopher Taylor (45.69) and Koroba Sibanda of Botswana (46.33). Christopher took the gold ahead of St. Clair in St. Kitts by 0.09 seconds. St. Clair, who is coached by former top national quarter-miler Charles Joseph.

The Abilene Wildcats sprinter is one of two T&T athletes on the List. Carifta boys under 18 200m champion Akanni Hislop is at fourth in the 100m and 200m with personal best times of 10.47(+0.3) and 20.91 (+1.8 ).


Akanni Hislop is at number 4 in the World Youth 100m and 200m rankings.
http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/100-metres/outdoor/men/youth/2015
http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/200-metres/outdoor/men/youth/2015
(Photo courtesy-Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports)

In the 100m the 2014 World Youth Olympics 200m fourth place finisher posted his best time in taking second in the century in St. Kitts on April 4 behind the world leader Javan Martin of the Bahamas (10.41). Martin’s top time was matched by South African Tlotlisa Leotleta on April 10.

Hislop then raced to 20.91 to improve to gold in the 200m on April 6, erasing his previous pb of 21.25 in the semifinals one day earlier. The Bishops High School fifth former is also at 10th on the World Junior (Under 20) rankings.

Another Carifta champion Tyriq Horsford was in the top ten in the last World Youth rankings following his 70.73 record throw to take the Boys under 18 javelin title in St. Kitts.
 
Carifta Girls under 20 shot put gold medallist Portious Warren is the lone local female on the global rankings at 10th in the World Junior shot put performance list with her 15.22m winning effort in St. Kitts.
http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/throws/shot-put/outdoor/women/junior/2015

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Lalonde golden in New Jersey
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Apr 28, 2015 at 10:10 PM ECT (T&T Express)

RIPPING FORM: Lalonde Gordon

Lalonde Gordon captured the men’s 200 metres title at the Essex Brick City Classic, in New Jersey, USA, on Sunday. The double Olympic bronze medallist stopped the clock at 20.90 seconds.

Another Trinidad and Tobago athlete, Odou Hazel won the men’s 800m event in two minutes, 00.95 seconds.

In California, College of the Sequoias athletes, Ashron Sobers and Ohdel James struck gold at the CVC Championships.

Sobers topped the men’s 100m field in 10.68 seconds, while James clocked 47.70 to emerge as men’s 400m champion. Another T&T/Sequoias athlete, Theon Lewis earned silver in the 400m in 47.93. In the 200m, Lewis (21.56) and Sobers (22.05) finished second and fifth, respectively.

At the Red River Athletic Conference Championships, in Oklahoma, Dan-Neil Telesford earned one individual gold medal as well as two silvers.

Telesford won the men’s 200m in 21.14 seconds. Two other T&T/Wiley College athletes, Quinn-Lee Ralph and Justin Maloney were second and fourth, respectively, clocking 21.41 and 21.69.

Ralph grabbed 100m gold in 10.69 seconds, forcing Telesford to settle for the runner-up spot in 10.79. And in the 400m, Maloney triumphed, edging Telesford into the silver slot. Both athletes clocked 48 seconds flat.

Emmanuel Stewart was the class of the Delaware Classic men’s discus field, the T&T field athlete winning with a 51.34 metres effort.

At the Kip Janvrin Open, in Indiana, Deborah John clocked 13.95 seconds to win the women’s 100m hurdles.

At the Triton Invitational, in California, Ruebin Walters was third in the men’s 110m hurdles in a wind-assisted 14.04 seconds, and fourth fastest in the 400m hurdles in 52.94. His Central Arizona College teammate, Hezekiel Romeo finished third in the men’s shot put with a 17.28m throw.

Magnolia Howell was third in the women’s 200m in 24.43 seconds, and fourth in the 400m in 54.36.

In Texas, Marissa Gale finished third in section one and fourth overall in the West Texas A&M Open Twilight women’s 200m event. The Western Texas College student got to the line in 24.14 seconds.

At the Bellarmine Classic, in Kentucky, Peli Alzola clocked 12.35 seconds to secure fifth spot in the women’s 100m dash. The Western Kentucky University sophomore also competed in the 200m, finishing eighth in 25.93.

At the Brutus Hamilton Challenge, in California, Aeisha McDavid was ninth fastest in the women’s 200m in a wind-aided 25.84 seconds. And in the javelin, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) senior finished 11th with a 31.29m throw.

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Baptiste pulls out of World Relays
...NAAA: It’s personal
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Guardian)
Published: Thursday, April 30, 2015

Kelly-Ann Baptiste

T&T’s prospects for a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay at this weekend’s IAAF/BTC World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, has been dented with the announcement of Kelly-Ann Baptiste’s withdrawal from the event. Off a recent 10.98 winning run at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, Baptiste was announced last week by the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) as part of the overall 23-athlete T&T contingent and six-runner women’s 4x100m pool.

However, in a media release issued on Tuesday night, Baptiste’s withdrawal was announced, along with a suggestion by the NAAA that the reason was not related to injury or her recently completed 21-month ban for droping. “Her withdrawal is not related to any prior issue and is merely to allow her to address urgent personal matters,” the release noted.

Contacted for further information yesterday, public relations officer (PRO) at the NAAA, Peter Samuel, said between the time the release was issued on Tuesday and press time last evening, there were no further details with regard to the specifics of her withdrawal, but maintained that he only understands it to be “personal”.

“I know that people are coming to all kinds of conclusions out of it, but I can guarantee that this has nothing to do with previous issues (that were made public),” Samuel said via telephone, adding that Baptiste is still very much expected to feature at next month’s National Open Championships, an event mandatory for athletes to be considered for the IAAF World Championships, in August.

The latest NAAA release, authored by Samuel, states: “Ms Baptiste has been enjoying an excellent season and her presence in the Bahamas would have significantly improved the chances of our 4x100m women’s team (claiming gold). Notwithstanding, our country is being represented by a strong team and all athletes are expected to give of their best.”

In the absence of Baptiste at the inaugural World Relays last year, T&T’s 4x100m women’s team secured bronze after clocking 42.66 seconds, behind USA (41.88) and Jamaica (42.28). Kamaria Durant, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Kai Selvon, represented T&T in the final and have been retained for this weekend’s races. Lisa Wickham is also in the team.

Baptiste’s initial inclusion meant T&T would have had a chance, albeit slim, to provide four runners from the six-athlete pool for the women’s 4x200m relay. Nevertheless, the women’s 4x100m team will challenge the heats on Sunday—second day of competition—at 7.16 pm, approximately two hours and 15 minutes before the final. T&T will also field a men and women 4x400m team and a men 4x100m and 4x200m team.

First in action will be the men’s 4x400m heats, which will open the World Relays from 7 pm on Saturday. Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Jarrin Solomon, all of whom combined for bronze last year in a national record breaking performance at 2:58.34, are also back in Nassau, while Kyle Greaux and Jacob St Clair have joined the pool.

The T&T athletes for the men’s 4x100m 4x200m relays include Marc Burns, Keston Bledman, Rondell Sorrillo and Richard Thompson—who captured silver in 38.04 seconds last year—with support from Marcus Duncan, Emmanuel Callender and Greaux. The men’s 4x100m relay heats and final will run on Saturday at 7.49 pm and 9.52 pm, respectively.

Sunday’s races will again start at 7 pm, opening with the men’s 4x200m heats, two hours and five minutes before the final. The women’s 4x400m relays will start with heats on Saturday at 8.32 pm, a day before the final, scheduled for 8.12 pm. The quarter-miler quartet, who will be seeking to improve from the 12th place finish last year, are Janeil Bellille, Josanne Lucas, Ramona Modeste, Alena Brooks and Magnolia Howell.

[Aviator]

Is it necessary to post the same article three times? It's not going to take on a different meaning because its under a different thread title.

[Socapro]

Is it necessary to post the same article three times? It's not going to take on a different meaning because its under a different thread title.

Don't let my posts bother you so much. I have my reasons.

[Aviator]

Is it necessary to post the same article three times? It's not going to take on a different meaning because its under a different thread title.

Don't let my posts bother you so much. I have my reasons.

You clearly have lots of time on your hands, so carry on.