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

[Socapro]

Olympic champion Walcott breaks National javelin record
By Clayton Clarke (sportscoretobago@gmail.com)
Thursday, 4 June 2015 (SportsCoreTobago.com)

Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott set a new T&T javelin record of 86.20m at the Diamond League Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet in Rome, Italy on June 4. (Photo courtesy: SPORTSCORETOBAGO)

Reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott set a new T&T national record at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond League Meet in Rome, Italy earlier today (Thursday, 4, June).
Walcott hurled the iron spear out to 86.20m to improve his previous national mark of 85.77 achieved at the Weltklasse Meet in Zurich, Switzerland on 28 August last year.
The new national figures were good enough to earn Walcott third, his best placing for the year. In Rome, the Toco javelin star was beaten by reigning World Champion Vitezslav Vesely of Czech Republic and Commonwealth champion Julius Yego of Kenya.  Vesely threw a world leading mark of 88.14 to take the top spot while Yego broke his Kenya record with a 87.71m effort. 
Walcott got his best mark in the sixth and final round to surpass former World Champion Tero Pitkamaki of Finland for the third spot.  With his national record mark Walcott also improved previous season best of 81.56 which he set in his seventh place finish at the Golden Spike Meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic on May 26.
The 2012 World Junior champion is now fifth on the IAAF World Rankings moving up from 30th. The Toco Secondary graduate is also at 59th on the world all-time. In addition, Walcott surpassed the 82.00m qualifying standard for  for this summer’s World Outdoor Athletic Championships in Beijing, China from August 22-30. He is now the 14th local athlete to have attained qualifying performances for the World Champs.
 
Walcott is listed to be action on Sunday (7 June) in the Birmingham leg of the IAAF Diamond League where he is expected to face Vesely, Yego and Pitkamaki in another quality field.  T&T’s second Olympic champion will be looking to continue his improvement. At the first Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar  on May 15 he  opened his season with an eighth place finish (80.68) and then improved to seventh with 81.56 in Ostrava 11 days later.
 
Reigning World champion Jehue Gordon was seventh in the men’s 400m hurdles in a World Championship qualifying time of 49.22. The 23 year old improved on his previous season’s best time of 49.97 set in his sixth place finish at the Jamaican Invitational on May 9. Gordon is an automatic qualifier for the World Championships as a defending champion. The Belmont Boys Secondary/QRC graduate is now at 14th on the latest 2015 World Performance list improving from 44th on the last list.
 
T&T athletes who have attained World Championships qualifying standards:
 
100m
 
Women (World Championships qualifying standard-11.33):  Michelle-Lee Ahye (TTO) 10.97/-2.6, 1st-Florida Relays, Gainesville, Florida, April 3/,  Kelly-Ann Baptiste (TTO) 10.98/+0.8, 1st-Tom Jones Memorial, Florida, April 24,
 
Men (World Championships qualifying standard-10.16):  Keston Bledman (TTO) 10.01/+1.5, 1st-Tom Jones Memorial, Florida, April 24 & 10.01/+0.9, 3rd-Diamond League, Doha, Qatar, May 15,  Richard Thompson (TTO) 10.04/+1.0, 1st-LSU Alumni Gold, Bato Rouge, LA, USA, April 18 & 10.04/+1.8, Jamaica International, Kington, Jamaica, May 9, Jamol James 10.15/+1.9 pb, 1st-Dual Meet, Tempe Arizona, USA, May 2,
 
200m
 
Men(20.50): Rondel Sorillo (TTO) 20.46/-0.1, 1st-Florida Relays, Gainesville, Florida, April 3,
 
Women (23.20): Kamaria Durant 23.12/+2.0pb, -Hampton Games, Port of Spain, T&T, May 24
 
400m Men (45.50): Machel Cedenio (TTO) 44.36pb, 1st-Cayman Islands Invitational, Georgetown, Cayman Islands, May 16,  Deon Lendore 44.41, 1st SEC Championships, Starkville Mississippi, USA, May 16, Lalonde Gordon (TTO) 45.50, 1st-St. Martin Invite, St. Martin, May 9,
 
110m hurdles (Men) (13.47): Mikel Thomas (TTO) 13.32/+1.8, 2nd-Mt. Sac Relays, Walnut, CA, April 18,
 
400m hurdles Men (49.50):  Jehue Gordon (TTO)-defending champion
 
Javelin Men (82.00): Keshorn Walcott (TTO) 86.02NR, 3rd-Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, Rome, Italy, June 4
 
Shot put Women (17.75): Cleopatra Borel (TTO) 18.41, 3rd -Seiko Golden Grand Prix, Kawasaki, Japan, May 10


Qualification System and Entry Standards
 
Individual Athletes can qualify in one of four ways:
 
1. Automatically by achieving the Entry Standard within the qualification period.
 
2. Based on the finishing position at designated competitions.
 
3. By Wild Card (Defending Champion or Diamond League / Hammer Throw Challenge Winner).
 
4. As a result of being one of the best ranked athletes at the end of the qualification period (to fill the remaining places in order to reach the target number of athletes by event established by the IAAF).
This does not apply to the 5000m, 10,000m, Marathons and Race Walks.
 
Relay Teams can qualify in one of two ways:
 
1. Automatically as being one of the first eight placed teams at the IAAF World Relays held in the year preceding the IAAF World Championships.                                                                         
 
 2. As a result of being one of the best ranked teams at the end of the qualification period (to fill the remaining places in order to reach the target number of teams by event established by the IAAF.
 
Complete qualification regulations: Entry standards – IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015

[Socapro]

Record re-set
Walcott throws 86.43m for Birmingham bronze
By Kwame Laurence
Published on Jun 8, 2015, 1:00 am AST (T&T Express)

Keshorn Walcott sets new T&T national record again!

Keshorn Walcott re-set his own Trinidad and Tobago men's javelin record at the Sainsbury's Birmingham Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet in England, yesterday.

The reigning Olympic champion threw 86.43 metres to improve on the 86.20m standard he had established in Rome, Italy, last Thursday. Walcott's new national record earned him bronze in yesterday's competition.

Walcott's series of throws was impressive. He opened at 80.56m, and followed up with an 85.21m effort. The 86.43m T&T record came in round three, and was followed by an 85.59m throw. Walcott fouled in the fifth round, but bounced back to land the spear 84.97m in the sixth and final round.

Julius Yego had the statisticians busy, joining the 90-metre club with a huge 91.39m effort in round six. The monster throw re-set the Kenyan and African records. Czech Republic's reigning world champion, Vitezslav Vesely threw 88.18m to snap up silver.

Watch the video 'Keshorn Walcott sets new national record'
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/yAK144M7TTE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/yAK144M7TTE</a>

Meanwhile, T&T's Cleopatra Borel threw the iron ball a season's best 18.80m to pick up silver in the women's shot put, behind Germany's Christina Schwanitz (19.68m). However, Jarrin Solomon trailed the field in the men's 300m, the T&T athlete finishing eighth in 33.22 seconds. South Africa's Wayde van Niekirk won in 31.63.

In the men's 100m, T&T sprinter Keston Bledman clocked 10.11 seconds to finish fifth in heat one and ninth overall in the qualifying round, just missing out on a top-eight finish and a lane in the final. American Marvin Bracy topped the championship race in 9.93.

At the Flanders Cup, in Belgium, on Saturday, T&T's Josanne Lucas triumphed in the women's 400m hurdles in 57.61 seconds.

At the Jim Bush Track and Field Championships, in California, USA, T&T athlete, Mikel Thomas struck gold in the men's 110m hurdles in 13.39 seconds.

Janeil Bellille seized silver in the women's 400m hurdles in a season's best 56.72 seconds. Magnolia Howell was sixth in the women's 400m in 54.96, and seventh in the 200m in 23.95.

In Florida, Semoy Hackett, back in competition after serving a 28-month doping ban, opened her season in fine style, securing silver in the Star Athletics Sprint Classic women's 200m. The T&T sprinter completed the half-lap race in 22.81 seconds. Shermund Allsop clocked 10.51 to finish second in the men's 100m “C” race.

At the New Jersey International Invitational, Andre Marcano bagged bronze in the men's 100m dash in 10.70 seconds. In the qualifying round, Marcano clocked 10.63, and Lalonde Gordon got to the line in 10.88.

[Socapro]

Thompson - Ready to Speed at 30
June 8th, 2015 11:32am (TrackAlerts.com)

Richard Thompson: "if you look at the best sprinters in the world now, Bolt is a year younger than I but you have Gatlin, Tyson and Asafa Powell who are all well into their thirties now."

Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago is 30 but the 2008 Olympic silver medallist still feels young enough to challenge the best at the World Championships later this year. Thompson says high level sprinting by the likes of 32 year-old Asafa Powell gives him confidence. The affable Trinidad and Tobago national 100 record holder was speaking during his recent visit to Jamaica in for the Jamaica Invitational.
 
"I still have youth on my side", he calculated with his 30th birthday on June 7. "Honestly", he outlined, "if you look at the best sprinters in the world now, Bolt is a year younger than I but you have Gatlin, Tyson and Asafa Powell who are all well into their thirties now."
 
Usain Bolt, the reigning World and Olympic champion, is 29 this summer and Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Powell are all 32 going 33. Moreover, TRACK AND FIELD NEWS, the respected US journal, ranked 6 men who are 30 this year or older in the top 10 for the 2014 season in the 100 metres. They were Americans Gatlin and Mike Rodgers who were number 1 and 2 respectively, Jamaica's Nesta Carter at 4, Powell at number 5, Thompson at 9 and evergreen Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis at number 10.
 
Even so, sprinting is still a young man's game. Only Carl Lewis and Linford Christie have won the World Championship 100 at age 30 or older and the average age of the 14 100 metre World Champions is 25 years old.
 
Thompson was 23 when he paced Bolt through the first half of the 2008 Olympic 100 metre final before finishing strongly in second place. He got another silver medals as the anchor leg runner on the twin island republic's 4x100 team.
 
As Thompson approaches 30, the form of older sprinters is a source of encouragement. "It just gives me encouragement that I'm able to continue to sprint well for a few years again", he said. He believes his experience will help to a certain extent. "It's worth something in terms of 'been there, done that'", said the 2009 World Championships finalist, "but at the same time, I can't be complacent and tell myself that I've been there before and that's going to carry me all the way."
 
"I have to approach it like it's my first time and I'm hungry but at the same time, be mindful of things I shouldn't do based on the experiences I've had in the past", he surmised.
 
Thompson set a seasonal best in the Jamaica Invitational 100 metres with a fourth place finish in 10.04 seconds. His lifetime best - a national record of 9.82 seconds - was established last year.

[Socapro]

Solomon seizes Spanish silver
By Kwame Laurence
Published on Jun 11, 2015, 12:01 am AST (T&T Express)

T&T Olympian Jarrin Solomon

Jarrin Solomon seized silver in the men’s 400 metres event at the Iberoamericano de Atletismo Meeting in Huelva, Spain, yesterday. The Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler clocked 46.59 seconds.

Botswana’s Onkabetse Nkobolo topped the field in 46.28, while third spot went to American Kyle Clemons (46.70).

Solomon finished a disappointing eighth in the men’s 300m at Sunday’s Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet, in England, getting to the line in 33.22 seconds. But he quickly put that performance behind him, bouncing back with the runner-up finish in Huelva.

In his 2015 outdoor opener, on March 21 in Arizona, USA, Solomon struck gold in the Willie Williams Classic 400m event in 46.07 seconds. On April 4, the 2012 Olympic Games 4x400m bronze medallist won again, this time clocking 45.62 at the Tailwind Open, in New Mexico, USA.

Solomon earned one-lap silver in 45.86 seconds at the April 18 Mt SAC Relays, in California. And on May 9, at the International Meeting in St Martin, the US-based athlete bagged bronze in 45.85. Another T&T quartermiler, double Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon captured the 400-200 double in St Martin, clocking 45.50 seconds in the 400 and 20.53 in the shorter race.

On Monday, in the Czech Republic, T&T’s Josanne Lucas finished seventh in the Josef Odložil Memorial women’s 400m hurdles. The 2009 IAAF World Championship bronze medallist got home in 57.48 seconds. South Africa’s Wenda Nel won in 55.20.
Lucas’ best clocking this season is 57.24 seconds—more than four seconds outside her 53.20 national record.

[Socapro]

Lendore defends NCAA 400 title
Borel sixth at Bislett Games
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Jun 11, 2015, 8:01 pm AST (T&T Express)

IN ACTION TODAY: Deon Lendore

Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore will defend his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championship men’s 400 metres title, in Oregon, USA, tonight.

Lendore has been drawn in lane five for the 8.35 p.m. (TT time) championship race, after winning his semifinal heat, late on Wednesday. The Texas A&M University quartermiler clocked 45.43 seconds to advance as the second fastest qualifier, behind Louisiana State University (LSU) student Vernon Norwood (45.42). The American athlete won heat three in 45.42.

Lendore is also expected to compete in the two relay finals. On Wednesday, he produced a 45.02 seconds split to anchor Texas A&M to victory in the second 4x400m semifinal, in three minutes, 05.21 seconds. And in the 4x100m, Lendore anchored his team to victory in semifinal number three in 39.11 seconds.

Another T&T athlete, Pennsylvania State University student Steve Waithe will bid for honours in the men’s triple jump.

Cleopatra Borel finished sixth in the women’s shot put, at the Bislett Games IAAF Diamond League meet, in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. The T&T thrower’s best effort on the day was 18.50 metres.

Germany’s Christina Schwanitz was the class of the field, striking gold with a 20.14m throw. Michelle Carter (19.20m) finished a distant second, while third spot went to her fellow-American, Brittany Smith (18.93m).

[Socapro]

Lendore limps out NCAA final James 4th in Bermuda
Published on Jun 13, 2015, 8:03 pm AST (T&T Express)

Deon Lendore picks up injury during 400m Final at 2015 NCAA Outdoors Champs

Deon Lendore limped out of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championship men's 400 metres final, in Oregon, USA, late on Friday.

With Kinetic tape on his right leg, it was clear Lendore was carrying an injury. Early on, the discomfort forced him to abort his title defence, the Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler unable to complete the championship race. It was an anticlimactic end to an outstanding collegiate career.

Lendore was actually scheduled to return to the track for the 4x400m final, but was unable to take his place on the Texas A&M University team. Earlier on Friday, he anchored his school to fifth spot in the 4x100m final in 38.77 seconds. Another T&T athlete, Penn State University's Steve Waithe finished eighth in the men's triple jump with a wind-aided 16.26 metres effort. His only legal jump was 14.16m.

Texas A&M finished sixth in the men's team competition with 27 points, while Penn State earned 17 points to tie for 10th with University of Illinois. University of Oregon were runaway winners with 85 points. University of Florida (56) and University of Arkansas (53), meanwhile, finished second and third, respectively.

Also on Friday, at the Bermuda National Championships, T&T halfmiler Jamaal James returned a season's best time of one minute, 49.53 seconds to secure fourth spot in the elite invitational men's 800m event.

Shaquille Dill won in 1:48.96, from his fellow-Bermudian Aaron Evans (1:49.24) and American Dage Minors (1:49.40).

—Kwame Laurence

2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Men's 400m
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/1BYr4yOi8ak" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/1BYr4yOi8ak</a>

[Deeks]

Shaquille Dill? I wonder if he related to Dill who won the Carifta Games 100 meters in the Oval in 71? That Dill was big fellow.

[Socapro]

Gordon 2nd to James in Morocco
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Jun 15, 2015, 8:24 pm AST (T&T Express)

T&T's Lalonde Gordon second to Kirani James

Lalonde Gordon snared silver in the men’s 400 metres event at the Mohammed VI d’Athletisme IAAF World Challenge meet, in Morocco, on Sunday.

The Trinidad and Tobago quarter-miler completed his lap of the track in 46.02 seconds to finish behind Grenada’s reigning Olympic champion, Kirani James, the winner in 45.15. Bahamian Demetrius Pinder secured bronze in 46.16.

Gordon (in lane 5) came off the final turn near the back of the eight-man field. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, however, had plenty gas left in his tank. He powered down the home straight, reeling in all but James to secure the runner-up spot in his second individual one-lap outing this season.

Men's 400m Kirani James 45.14 Rabat IAAF World Challenge Meeting 2015
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/re-cbP3N2g4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/re-cbP3N2g4</a>

In his 2015 400m opener, in St Martin on May 9, Gordon emerged victorious in 45.50 seconds. He captured an impressive double at that meet, winning the 200m event in 20.53.

Gordon will be home for the June 26-28 NGC-Sagicor NAAA National Open Track and Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. The 26-year-old quartermiler is expected to square off against Machel Cedenio, Deon Lendore, Jarrin Solomon, Renny Quow and Jereem Richards for the men’s 400m title at Nationals. Quow is the reigning one-lap champion, while Gordon captured 200m gold last year.

Josanne Lucas (in lane 8 ) was also on show at Sunday’s IAAF World Challenge meet, in Morocco. The 2009 IAAF World Championship bronze medallist finished sixth in the women’s 400m hurdles in 57.53 seconds.

Women's 400m Hurdles Rabat IAAF World Challenge Meeting 2015
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/hUelJp7vjm8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/hUelJp7vjm8</a>

South African Wenda Nel earned gold in 55.36, finishing ahead of Ukraine’s Anna Titimets (55.86) and Morocco’s Hayat Lambarki (55.94).

Complete Results for 2015 Mohammed VI d’Athletisme IAAF World Challenge Meet, in Morocco: http://www.iaaf.org/Competitions/iaaf-world-challenge/mohammed-vi-dathletisme-de-rabat-5628/timetable/byday

[Aviator]

Race video:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/re-cbP3N2g4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/re-cbP3N2g4</a>

Mr Gordon needs to seriously adjust that race model. Seems to be a trend among our q-milers. Quow does it and Cedenio to a lesser extent. You have to attack the first 300m to be consistently competitive.

[Socapro]

Race video:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/re-cbP3N2g4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/re-cbP3N2g4</a>

Mr Gordon needs to seriously adjust that race model. Seems to be a trend among our q-milers. Quow does it and Cedenio to a lesser extent. You have to attack the first 300m to be consistently competitive.

Analyzing his race, I think Lalonde went out as hard as the others for the 1st 200m but then lost a lot of ground with the other runners during the 3rd 100m of the race leaving him at the back of the pack and with a lot of ground to make up in the last 100m.

To me Lalonde Gordon has similar tools (long stride and good 200m speed) as Kirani does and can learn a lot from emulating how Kirani runs his races.

Kirani usually goes out hard and positions himself to be at the front of the pack with 100m to go and then relies on his speed endurance and final kick to take him clear of the field in the home straight (last 100m).
If Lalonde trains himself to run his 400m race in a similar pattern to Kirani he will consistently run faster times and will eventually start pressing Kirani for the 1st place when they clash.

I believe Lalonde has the tools to consistently run much faster than he regularly does over 400m so I am not sure if the reason why he is not fulfilling his true potential is down to lack of conditioning or if it is more down to bad race strategy and his coach not giving him enough guidance after analyzing his races to help him improve his performances.

However despite all our critic of Lalonde’s 400m race pattern he still tends to turn up at his best for major championships and got among the medals in the Commonwealth Games last year and the Olympics in 2012.

[Socapro]

St Fort, Hislop for World Youth
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jun 18, 2015, 12:01 am AST

Top photo: Khalifa St Fort celebrates victory in 2015 Junior Track & Champs U-18 100m final;
2nd photo: Akanni Hislop wins Boys' U18 100m at T&T National Secondary Schools Champs 2015.

Khalifa St Fort and Akanni Hislop are among four athletes selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the July 15-19 IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. In a press release, yesterday, the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) announced that St Fort will compete in the women’s 100 metres event at the global under-18 meet. Hislop bids for honours in the men’s 100m and 200m events. Also on the team for Cali are Jacob St Clair, who will chase honours in the men’s 400m, and female shot putter Akidah Briggs.

St Fort, Hislop and St Clair have also been named on the 24-member T&T team for the July 31-August 2 Pan American Junior Championships, in Edmonton, Canada. That team also includes sprinters Jonathan Farinha and Kayelle Clarke, long jumper Andwuelle Wright, and shot putter Portious Warren. Hislop and Briggs will be the T&T track and field representatives at the September 5-11 Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia, Samoa.

T&T TEAMS

IAAF World Youth (July 15-19):

Akanni Hislop (men’s 100, 200), Jacob St Clair (men’s 400), Khalifa St Fort (women’s 100), Akidah Briggs (women’s shot put)

Officials: Jim Clarke (manager), Nadine Hamid (coach), Clint McKenzie (medical)

Pan Am Juniors (July 31-August 2):

Male — Jonathan Farinha (100, 200, 4x100), Akanni Hislop (100, 200, 400), Jacob St Clair (400, 4x400), Jamoul Pierre 400, 4x400), Aaron Lewis (110 hurdles), Omari Benoit (high jump), Andwuelle Wright (long jump), Che Richards (long jump), Kenejah Williams (shot put), Joash Huggins (4x100), Corey Stewart (4x100), Francis Louis (4x100), Nathan Farinha (4x100, 4x400), Jesse Frederick (4x400), Terry Frederick (4x400), Onal Mitchell (4x400)

Female — Kayelle Clarke (100, 200, 4x100), Khalifa St Fort (100, 4x100), Jeminise Parris (100 hurdles, 4x100), Portious Warren (shot put), Chelsea James (shot put), Jendayi Noel (4x100), Jael Fergusson (4x100), Thyla-Marie Scott (4x100)

Officials — Allan Baboolal (manager), Reynold Porter-Lee (coach), Ian Carter (coach), Wendell Williams (coach), Kerron Browne (coach), Nicole Fuentes (medical)

Commonwealth Youth Games (September 5-11):

Akanni Hislop (men’s 100, 200), Akidah Briggs (women’s shot put), Althea Busby (manager/coach)

[Socapro]

Injury forces St Clair on sidelines
By Sean Nero (T&T Guardian)
Published: Saturday, June 20, 2015

Joshua Jacob St. Clair (400m specialist) of Abilene Wildcats Athletics Club

Abilene Wildcats 400m specialist Joshua Jacob St Clair, who was named by the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) to compete at the IAAF World Youth Championships, scheduled to take place from July 15–19 in Cali, Colombia and the Pan American Junior Championships, from July 31–August 13, 2015, Edmonton, Alberta Canada, appears doubtful because of an injury.

A media release from the NAAA listed St Clair to compete at these events, but injuries to both his legs have reduced his chances to sport the red, white and black national colours at both events.

NAAA president Ephraim Serrette told the T&T Guardian yesterday that St Clair had an achilles injury which was healing, but he later sustained a fresh grade two hamstring injury.

“He may be out of the Championships based on information coming from the medical team,” said Serrette.

The Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games was the third international event for which the NAAA announced its competitors. That event was carded to take place this September in Apia, Samoa.

Thirty athletes and ten officials have been named for the three Championships respectively.

Serrette said athletes were selected based on performances from Carifta to the NGC/NAAA Junior Championships and these would have been athletes who qualified and St Clair was among them, but recent developments would deny him a chance to represent T&T, at least for now.

He said for competition in the World Youth Championships only four athletes were selected and St Clair was among them.

The other athletes were: Carifta double medallists Akanni Hislop of Zenith AC (100m / 200m) Khalifa St Fort (100m) Akidah Briggs of Toco Titans in the shot put.

“For the Pan American Junior Championships we have a little larger team, because of the relay factor. So, we have our women and men 4x100m and a men’s 4x400m that would automatically take the total up. But we would have selected athletes who we know are competitive and should at least make a final at these events,” Serrette said.

When the people of T&T hear the names Hislop, and Jonathan Farinha, said the NAAA official, they should know that athletes of this calibre were the future of track and field.

These athletes, according to Serrette, now have to be put on the transition list from junior into senior level.

Hislop was selected for all three junior Championships.

“In the case of the World Youth Championships in Cali Colombia I am expecting great performance from Hislop. Hislop and St Fort can deliver performances that lead to the rostrum,” Serrette said.

[Socapro]

Solomon wins in 45.15
... qualifies for Worlds one-lap
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 6, 2015, 8:23 pm AST

World Champs qualifier: Jarrin Solomon

Jarrin Solomon produced his fastest run this season to strike gold in a men's 400 metres race, at the Résisprint International meet, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, on Sunday.

Solomon stopped the clock at 45.15 seconds to secure top spot in the one-lap “B” race. The Trinidad and Tobago quarter-miler finished well ahead of Sudan's Sadam Koumi, the silver medallist in 45.58. Belgian Antoine Gillet was a distant third in 46.25.

For Solomon, yesterday's run was very significant. In addition to being the second fastest clocking of his career, behind the 44.98 seconds personal best he produced in Belgium last year, the 45.15 run was well inside the 45.50 IAAF World Championship qualifying standard.

Five T&T quarter-milers have now attained the standard for the August 22-30 global meet, creating a potential selection headache for the officials who will travel to Beijing, China with the World Championship team. Only three of the five can run in the individual 400m event.

The fastest of the quintet are Machel Cedenio, who is sixth on the 2015 world list at 44.36 seconds, and Deon Lendore, who is seventh at 44.41. However, Cedenio was disqualified in last month's National Championship final for running out of his lane, while Lendore did not compete at Nationals because of injury.

National champion Renny Quow is third fastest among T&T quartermilers this year with the 44.90 seconds run that earned him the T&T title. Solomon is fourth with Sunday's 45.15 clocking. And 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon is fifth at 45.50. Solomon and Gordon earned silver and bronze, respectively, at Nationals.

Only two quarter-milers were faster than Solomon at the Résisprint International meet--Botswana's Isaac Makwala and Qatari junior Abdalelah Haroun.

Makwala won the men's 400m “A” race in a jaw-dropping 43.72 seconds to move into fifth spot on the world all-time list, behind world record holder Michael Johnson (43.18) and his fellow-Americans Butch Reynolds (43.29), Jeremy Wariner (43.45) and Quincy Watts (43.50). Makwala's 43.72 clocking is a new African record and the fastest time in the world this year.

Haroun clocked 44.27 seconds to finish second to Makwala, yesterday, the fine run pushing him up to second on the world all-time junior 400m list. Only former Olympic champion Steve Lewis has run faster while still in the under-20 ranks. The American was golden at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea in a world junior record time of 43.87 seconds.

Eighteen-year-old Haroun is joint-fourth with Bahamian Steven Gardiner on the 2015 men's 400m list. Only Makwala, Grenada's reigning Olympic champion Kirani James (43.95) and South African Wayde van Niekirk (43.96) have run faster this year.

[gawd on pitch]

According to this article on Trackalerts, Lendore is supposed to be running at a meet in Edmonton:

http://www.trackalerts.com/Articles/edmonton-welcomes-strongest-fields-in-history-of-tracktown-classic/14118/

Not sure how accurate it is. I thought he was supposed to run at HCS this weekend.

[Socapro]

Borel wins big
Gold as well for Bledman
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 7, 2015, 9:21 pm AST

Cleopatra Borel in good form

Cleopatra Borel captured the Istvan Gyulai Memorial women's shot put title, in Hungary, yesterday. Borel produced a big 19.26 metres effort—a new meet record and her best throw in four years—to secure the top spot ahead of American Michelle Carter (19.20m).

The Trinidad and Tobago field athlete is fourth on the 2015 world performance list.

On Saturday, Borel finished fourth at the Meeting Areva IAAF Diamond League meet, in Paris, France, with a 19.07m throw.

Renny Quow was also in fine form in Hungary yesterday, the T&T quartermiler bagging bronze in the men's 400m in 44.72 seconds. The clocking was the fastest produced by Quow since 2009, the year he finished third in the IAAF World Championship final in Berlin, Germany. He had run a personal best 44.53 in the semifinal round. Bahamian Steven Gardiner emerged victorious in Hungary in 44.30 seconds, while second spot went to American LaShawn Merritt in 44.43.

Quow, who captured the national one-lap title last month in 44.90 seconds, jumped from 18th to 15th on the 2015 world performance list with yesterday's 44.72 run.

Keston Bledman, who is joint-fourth on the 2015 men's 100m list with France's Jimmy Vicaut thanks to the 9.86 seconds scorcher he produced to win the T&T title, was again in winners' row on Monday.

Bledman stopped the clock at 10.02 seconds for gold at the Meeting Pro Athlé, in Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France. The 27-year-old track star forced Americans Mike Rodgers (10.06) and Charles Silmon (10.23) to settle for the minor medals. And at the Cork City Sports International Athletics Meet, in Ireland yesterday, T&T's Jarrin Solomon finished fourth in a men's 200m race in 21.87 seconds.

[Socapro]

Three T&T athletes will take part in the 2015 Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland tomorrow Thursday (http://lausanne.diamondleague.com/en/home/) so I will create a dedicated thread for that DL Meet if I get the time.

Keshorn Walcott will compete in the Men's Javelin, Keston Bledman will compete in the Men's 100m Dash while Jehue Gordon will compete in the Men's 400m Hurdles.

Here is link to the startlists: http://lausanne.diamondleague.com/en/disciplines-results/2015-disciplines/#contentTabFrame#/live/general/js/mappings/schedule#ScheduleFrame#Lausanne2015_SCHEDULE_json


Also three T&T athletes will take part in the 33rd Meeting Madrid 2015 in Spain this Saturday (http://www.rfea.es/competi/madridmeeting/index_eng.htm) so I may create a dedicated thread for that Meet if I get the time.

Renny Quow and Jarrin Solomon will compete in the 400m Dash while Jehue Gordon will compete in the 400m Hurdles.

Here is link to the startlists: http://www.rfea.es/competi/madridmeeting/participantes2015.pdf

[Socapro]

ELITE CLUB: Walcott hits 90-metre mark
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 9, 2015, 9:26 pm AST

Golden effort: Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott. —Photo: AFP

Keshorn Walcott joined the elite 90-metre club, at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League meet, in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday.

In the very first round of the men's javelin competition, Walcott landed the spear 90.16 metres to smash his own national record, jumping from 59th to 14th on the world all-time list in the process. He also broke the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) record, bettering the 87.20m standard set by Cuba's Guillermo Martinez in 2011.

Walcott had established the previous Trinidad and Tobago record of 86.43m at the Sainsbury's Birmingham Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet, in England, on June 7. The 2012 Olympic champion finished third on that occasion.

There was no beating Walcott, yesterday, the 22-year-old field athlete securing his first Diamond League victory with his first-ever 90-metre effort. When the distance was posted on the scoreboard, an exultant Walcott triumphantly raised both arms. The 90.16m monster throw is a new meet record, bettering the 89.94m standard established by world record holder Jan Zelezny, of the Czech Republic, back in 2001.

Silver yesterday went to another Czech Republic thrower, Vitezslav Vesely, the reigning world champion producing an 87.97m effort. And Finland's Tero Pitkamaki bagged bronze at the Athletissima meet with an 87.44m throw. Pitkamaki is seventh on the world all-time list at 91.53m. Three-time Olympic champion Zelezny heads the list with his world record throw of 98.48m.

Walcott is only the 14th thrower to join the exclusive 90-metre club. Understandably satisfied with his superb opening round effort, the Toco athlete only took one more throw in the competition, a third round foul.

Meanwhile, Keston Bledman finished fifth in the Athletissima men's 100 metres dash, the T&T sprinter getting to the line in 10.03 seconds, the same time clocked by fourth-placed Michael Rodgers of the United States.

Another American, Justin Gatlin won in a very fast 9.75 seconds. It was the third time this season he had produced a sub-9.80 run. Jamaican Asafa Powell seized silver in 9.92 seconds, while bronze went to American Tyson Gay, who also clocked 9.92.

T&T's Jehue Gordon finished eighth and last in the men's 400m hurdles in 50.07 seconds. American Bershawn Jackson clocked 48.71 to strike gold, ahead of South Africa's LJ van Zyl (48.92) and Russia's Denis Kudryavtsev (49.01).

Gordon, who will defend his IAAF World Championship title in Beijing, China next month, was disappointed with his performance.

"Terrible race for me. The race got away from me on the backstretch. Running from lane two was not easy and it was cold temperature, but I'm not making excuses. I have to go back to training and work hard. I am the defending champion," Gordon ended, "and I intend to do well in Beijing."

At the World University Games, in Gwangju, Korea, yesterday, University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) athlete, LeSean Noel competed in the semi-final round of the men's 100m event. The T&T sprinter finished sixth in heat two in 10.54 seconds. The top four in each heat advanced to the final. South Africa's Akani Simbine clocked 9.97 to grab gold in the championship race.

On Wednesday, Noel was third in his first round heat in 10.65 seconds, and third in his quarterfinal heat in 10.74. He was eliminated in the opening round of the 200m, after finishing sixth in his first round heat, yesterday, in 21.81.

Another T&T/UTT athlete, Kyle Stanley was fifth in his men's 400m first round heat, on Wednesday, in 51.57 seconds and did not progress to the semis.

[Socapro]

Solomon golden in Madrid
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 11, 2015, 8:46 pm AST

Jarrin Solomon about to start 400m at Meeting Madrid 2015

Jarrin Solomon topped the field in a men’s 400 metres event, at the 33rd Meeting Madrid IAAF World Challenge meet, in Spain, yesterday.

The Trinidad and Tobago quarter-miler got home in 45.20 seconds, the fourth fastest time of his career, to secure gold. Botswana’s Onkabetse Nkobolo clocked 45.36 to finish second, while third spot went to American Joshua Mance in 45.85.

Solomon’s T&T teammate, Renny Quow competed in the other men’s 400m race, the 2015 national champion finishing sixth in 45.37 seconds. Abdelalelah Haroun was the class of the field, the 18-year-old Qatari sensation completing his lap of the track in 44.63 to strike gold. American David Verburg claimed silver in 44.72, ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (44.79).

Jehue Gordon produced a 49.53 seconds run to finish fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles. Top spot went to Bahamian Jeffery Gibson in 48.89. Gibson finished ahead of American Jeshua Anderson, the runner-up in 49.14 seconds, and Nigeria’s Miles Ukaoma (49.29). Reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Cornel Fredericks was fourth in 49.50, the South African finishing just ahead of Gordon.

For Gordon, the 49.53 run was a big improvement on the 50.07 seconds clocking he produced in finishing eighth and last at Thursday’s Athletissima IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 23-year-old T&T athlete is preparing for the defence of his IAAF World Championship title in Beijing, China, next month.

At the World University Games, in Gwangju, Korea, on Friday, T&T’s Kyle Stanley returned a time of one minute, 57.80 seconds to finish eighth in his first round heat. The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) student did not qualify for yesterday’s semi-final round.

[Socapro]

Thomas, Telesford, Bellille shine at Falcons Invitational
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 11, 2015, 8:25 pm AST

400 hurdles winner: Janeil Bellille (Abilene Wildcats)

Reyare Thomas and Kamaria Durant pushed each other to personal bests at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday.

Thomas earned a slight edge in the Falcons Invitational Last Chance Meet women’s 200 metres event, the Abilene sprinter just getting the better of Durant in a battle royale. But both athletes were “winners” on the day. Thomas grabbed gold in 22.82 seconds, while Durant clocked 22.83 for silver.

Thomas and Durant will run the half-lap event at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada later this month, and would both be buoyed by their first-ever legal sub-23 clockings. The times are also well inside the 23.20 seconds IAAF World Championship qualifying standard.

The Falcons Invitational men’s 200m was also keenly contested, Neon Trackers sprinter Dan-Neil Telesford emerging victorious in 20.56 seconds. Telesford had a significant lead, coming off the turn. Kyle Greaux, however, was stronger on the straight, but not strong enough, Telesford holding on for the victory. Fast-finishing Greaux was forced to settle for silver in 20.59.

Janeil Bellille underlined her class with a dominant run in the women’s 400m hurdles. The Abilene athlete won in 55.68 seconds, the third fastest time she has ever produced in the event and more than half-a-second faster than the 56.20 IAAF World Championship qualifying standard.

Levi Cadogan was unchallenged for gold in the men’s 100m dash. The Barbadian sprinter clocked 10.48 seconds, shutting down at the end. Nathan Farinha was a distant second in 10.66.

Sade Williams won the women’s 400m in 53.52 seconds, from Alena Brooks (53.94) and Romona Modeste (54.16). Coming off the final bed, Modeste had the edge on her two rivals. It was Williams, though, who had the most gas left in her tank, the Barbadian motoring past Modeste to claim the title.

Defence Force quarter-miler Deverne Charles topped the men’s 400m field in 48.03 seconds. There were victories for Rebirth field athletes, Quincy Wilson, Hezekiel Romeo and Kyron Blaise. Wilson threw 56.29 metres for a runaway victory in the men’s discus. Romeo’s 17.23m effort earned him gold in the men’s shot put. And Blaise disturbed the sand at 7.41m for top honours in the men’s long jump.

Portious Warren completed a throwing double. The Toco TAFAC athlete triumphed in the women’s discus with a 38.90m effort, and then topped the shot put field with a 15.17m throw.

And in the women’s 100m hurdles, Air Bon Sonics athlete, Deborah John won in a wind-aided 13.58 seconds, forcing Jeminise Parris to settle for the runner-up spot in 13.85.

[Socapro]

Borel second in Switzerland meet
Wednesday, July 15 2015 (T&T Express)

Cleopatra Borel competing in Women's Shot Put at T&T Champs

CLEOPATRA BOREL finished second in the women’s shot put yesterday at the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet in Luzern, Switzerland.

Borel saved her best for last, as she threw 18.71 metres with her sixth and final effort. But she was unable to get the better of Olympic and World champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand, whose best throw was 18.73 m.

Natalia Duco of Chile was third with 17.56m while Lena Urbaniak of Germany was fourth with a best effort of 16.80m.

Jamaican Stephenie-Ann McPherson was victorious but Veronica Campbell-Brown, two-time Olympic Games 200m gold medallist, and World and Olympic Games medallist Warren Weir, were also in action, but ended on losing sides.

McPherson topped the women’s 400m dash in 50.50 seconds. Kemi Adekoya, a Nigerian-born Bahrain athlete, finished second in 50.86 and Jamaica champion Christine Day, third in 51.57.

Campbell-Brown was the second best on the day, finishing the half lap event in 22.61.

Another Jamaican, Shericka Jackson won her section in 22.87, but the overall winner was American Charonda Williams in 22.32. Williams earlier won the 100m in 11.14.

Weir ran 20.45 and Tyquendo Tracey 20.59 for fifth and sixth in the men’s 200m ‘A’ race won by South African Wayde van Niekerk in 19.94, a new national record.

Jamaican Edino Steele did 20.54 in the ‘B’ race.

In the highly competitive women’s 100m hurdles, Jamaican Danielle Williams, fresh from her success at the World University Games last week, crossed the line in 12.92. Americans Queens Harrison 12.62, World Champion Brianna Rollins 12.66 and Sharika Nelvis 12.72 were faster on the day.

In the men’s sprint hurdles, Shane Brathwaite of Barbados 13.43 and Dwight Thomas of Jamaica 13.48 watched as former World Champion Jason Richardson recorded the day’s fastest time of 13.25.

Jason Morgan improved on her last outing with 61.10m, but that was only good enough for fifth in the men’s discus, won by German Martin Wierig 63.85.

[Socapro]

Borel 2nd in Luzern
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 14, 2015, 9:03 pm AST

SILVER: Cleopatra Borel finished second in the women's shot put
at the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet, in Luzern, Switzerland, yesterday.

Trinidad and Tobago's Cleopatra Borel finished second to New Zealand's two-time Olympic champion Valerie Adams at the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet, in Luzern, Switzerland, yesterday.

Borel threw the iron ball 18.71 metres for silver in the women's shot put, while Adams was marginally better at 18.73m. Chile's Natalia Duco (17.56m) finished third.

Borel and Adams have now clashed 50 times, starting with the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. Adams leads 48-2 in their head-to-head meetings.

T&T's Emanuel Mayers was in fine form at the USATF National Club Championships, in New York, USA, last Saturday.

The Shore Athletic Club (New Jersey) athlete stopped the clock at 49.80 seconds to strike gold in the men's 400m hurdles. The clocking was Mayers' fastest time this season and the fourth fastest of his career.

Andre Marcano captured the men's 100m title with a season's best 10.59 seconds run, into a 1.1 metres per second headwind. In the preliminary round, the T&T/Central Park Track Club (New York) sprinter won heat five in 10.65.

Another T&T/Central Park Track Club athlete, Adrian Crichlow topped section three in the men's 200m in 21.67 seconds. Crichlow was sixth overall. Marcano, meanwhile, was second in section four and ninth overall in a personal best 21.83.

Mayers' Shore Athletic Club won the men's team title with 140 points, beating Central Park Track Club (119) into second spot

On Sunday, at the Track Town Classic, in Edmonton, Canada, Mikel Thomas finished seventh in the men's 110m hurdles in 13.69 seconds. The top two spots went to Americans Ashton Eaton (13.38) and Kevin Craddock (13.53), while bronze was bagged by Canada's Sekou Kaba (13.57).

Next week, Borel, Mayers and Thomas will represent T&T at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

[Deeks]

Medals pickings going to be lean at the games!

[Socapro]

Former BYU track star revives Olympic dreams at age 41
07/15/2015 09:44 PM (Good4Utah.com)

Marsha Mark-Baird former BYU track star,  training in the heptathlon for 2016 Rio Olympics

PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Former BYU track star Marsha Mark-Baird isn't let age slow her down one bit.

After competing in the Olympics in 2000 and 2004 for her native country of Trinidad and Tobago, Mark-Baird is training for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in the heptathlon at the age of 41.

"I think once you set your mind to something, you can decide, hey, I can do whatever I want," she said.

Marsha set her mind to competing in the Olympics and she accomplished just that -- twice.

"It was amazing," she said. "I just tell people it was amazing and awesome, but when I focus on how it really was, it was the experience of my lifetime."

But Marsha stepped away from track in 2004. She thought her track and field career was over. But after watching Dara Torres compete at the age of 41 in the 2008 Olympics, Marsha's Olympic dreams were revived. After a 10-year break from competing, she started training again and amazingly, because her technique had improved, her body responded well.

"Actually, I was not surprised, but pleased with how well my body has held up," said Mark-Baird, who graduated from BYU in 1997 and attained her Masters in 1999. "At 41, with three kids, a 10-year break and training for Rio."

Training for the Olympics is expensive, however. Not being an American athlete, finding sponsors has been difficult. She says it costs anywhere from $10,000 to 15,000 per year for training. So, Marsha teaches kids how to run track, mainly the hurdles, which is something she never had growing up.

"For me, it's a blessing to be able to teach and help," she said. "Because I didn't have all that help, especially in hurdles, at their age. I started hurdles when I was a freshman in college. It was very stressful and difficult for me. I cried the first day, because I had no idea how to hurdle."

Marsha's been overcoming hurdles ever since. She thought about trying for the 2012 Olympics in London, and even named her son, London.

"I have not named any kids or pets Rio," she said with a smile.

Marsha won't know if she'll make her third Olympic team until next June, Marsha will continue being a mom, teaching kids to run, and training like 40-something is nothing.

"So I've been training for about three years," she said. "I've got one more year to go, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Click to view video feature: http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/embed/iframe?aspect_ratio=3x2&auto_start=0&pf_id=9207&rel=3&show_title=0&va_id=5870803&volume=8&windows=1

[Socapro]

Lalonde breaks T&T 300m record
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 16, 2015, 8:39 pm AST

New 300m record: Lalonde Gordon

Lalonde Gordon erased a 23-year-old Trinidad and Tobago record from the books, at the International Meeting de Liège, in Belgium on Wednesday.

Gordon stopped the clock at 32.21 seconds to capture the men's 300 metres title. The 2012 Olympic 400m bronze medallist finished ahead of Belgium's Jonathan Borlee, the runner-up in 32.43, and American Patrick Feeney (32.73).

Gordon's impressive 32.21 clocking was six-hundredths of a second faster than the previous T&T standard of 32.27, established by Ian Morris in Wales way back in 1992.

On Wednesday, Gordon ran a full half-second faster than his previous outdoor best in the event, 32.71 seconds. The 26-year-old Tobago quarter-miler also has a 32.47 indoor best to his name.

Gordon is now at the top of the all-time T&T men's 300m outdoor and indoor lists. Morris is second on the outdoor list with his 32.27 run. Renny Quow is third thanks to the 32.36 seconds clocking he produced at last year's International Meeting de Liège, in Belgium. Ato Stephens and Patrick Delice are fourth and fifth, respectively, at 32.62 and 32.90.

Quow is second on the all-time T&T indoor list at 32.71 seconds.

Gordon's 32.21 national record run earned him fifth spot on the 2015 world outdoor list. South Africa's Wayde van Niekirk is the world-leader at 31.63 seconds. Veteran Bahamian Chris Brown is in second spot with a 31.99 clocking. Great Britain's Delano Williams is next on the list with a 32.14 run. And American David Verburg is fourth fastest this year at 32.17.

American 200/400 great, Michael Johnson is the men's 300m world record holder with a 30.85 seconds run, produced at altitude in Pretoria, South Africa in 2000. Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt is second on the global all-time list at 30.97, while third spot is held by American LaShawn Merritt (31.30).

[Socapro]

Walcott 4th in Monaco Diamond League
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 17, 2015, 8:51 pm AST

RICH VEIN OF FORM: USA’s Justin Gatlin, left, on his way to winning the
100m men’s race ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman, who
finished fifth, at the Herculis International Athletics meet, at the Louis II
Stadium in Monaco, yesterday. —Photo: AP

Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott finished fourth in the men’s javelin, at the Herculis IAAF Diamond League meet, in Monaco, yesterday. The reigning Olympic champion threw 83.54 metres in the opening round, but was unable to improve on the mark. The closest he came was in round four when he landed the spear 83.37m.

Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki threw 88.87m to grab gold, forcing Vitezslav Vesely to settle for silver with an 85.44m effort. Vesely’s Czech Republic teammate, Jakub Vadlejch (84.32m) finished third. Kenyan Julius Yego, who beat Walcott into second spot at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was sixth yesterday with an 81.79m throw.

Last week Thursday, Walcott produced the best throw of his career, the 22-year-old Toco athlete capturing the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League title with a huge 90.16m effort.

Walcott is the 14th member of the elite 90-metre club. With his 90.16m monster throw, he jumped from 59th to 14th on the world all-time list.

Keston Bledman finished fifth in the Herculis men’s 100m dash. The T&T sprinter clocked 10.10 seconds.

Justin Gatlin continued his rich vein of form with a scintillating meet record run of 9.78 seconds. Gatlin won easily, finishing well ahead of his fellow-American Tyson Gay, the runner-up in 9.97. France’s Jimmy Vicaut got home in 10.03 to finish third, while fourth spot went to Great Britain’s Chijindu Ujah (10.08).

Gatlin has raced unbeaten in individual events this year, and has dived under 9.80 seconds four times in five 100m outings.

[Socapro]

Lalonde clocks sub-45 in Belgium
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 19, 2015, 8:15 pm AST

Lalonde Gordon, TTO Quarter-miler

Lalonde Gordon produced his fastest 400 metres clocking this season at the KBC Night of Athletics meet, in Heusden, Belgium, on Saturday. The Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler topped the men's one-lap field in 44.99 seconds, getting home ahead of American Tony McQuay (45.13) and Belgium's Kevin Borlee (45.24).

Gordon was triumphant in his 400m season-opener, in St Martin on May 9, completing his lap of the track in 45.50 seconds. On June 14, in Morocco, he clocked 46.02 to secure the runner-up spot, behind Grenada's reigning Olympic champion Kirani James (45.15).

A couple weeks later, Gordon competed at the NGC-Sagicor National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Open Track and Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. The double Olympic bronze medallist bagged bronze at the T&T Nationals in 46.45 seconds. The run was almost two seconds slower than his personal best time of 44.52.

But Gordon found form on Wednesday in Belgium, clocking 32.21 seconds to win the International Meeting de Liège men's 300m title. The fast run was a new national record, bettering Ian Morris' 32.27 standard, which stood for 23 years.

Gordon's 32.21 clocking put him in fifth spot on the 2015 world outdoor performance list. South African Wade van Niekirk tops the list at 31.63 seconds. Evergreen Bahamian quartermiler Chris Brown (31.99), Briton Delano Williams (32.14) and American David Verburg (32.17) are second, third and fourth, respectively.

James, van Niekirk and Botswana's Isaac Makwala have all dived under 44 seconds in the 400 this season, clocking 43.95, 43.96 and 43.72, respectively, and would fancy their chances of a podium finish at the August 22-30 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

Makwala leads the world, while James and van Niekirk are second and third, respectively. T&T's Machel Cedenio is joint-sixth with American LaShawn Merritt at 44.36 seconds. Another T&T quartermiler, Deon Lendore is joint-eighth with Verburg at 44.41. And three other T&T athletes are in the top 40. Renny Quow (44.72) is 15th, Gordon (44.99) 25th, and Jarrin Solomon (45.15) 34th.

[Socapro]

REAL DEAL: Ato heaps praises on St Fort
By Kwame Laurence, kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Jul 19, 2015, 9:39 pm AST (T&T Express)

PROUD ON THE PODIUM: Trinidad and Tobago's Khalifa St Fort, left, poses with her IAAF World
Youth Championship girls' 100 metres silver medal, in Cali, Colombia, on Thursday night.
Also in the photo are gold medallist Candace Hill, centre, and bronze medallist Jayla Kirkland,
both of the United States. —Photo: © Getty Images for IAAF

"Khalifa is fearless in a way that I've never seen a young female sprinter, so she goes out there and has fun and truly enjoys it. That's championship pedigree."

Ato Boldon was high in praise for Khalifa St Fort, the 17-year-old sprinter he steered to girls' 100 metres silver at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Boldon is no stranger to the global stage. He has four Olympic medals, and is the 1997 200m world champion. But on Thursday night, the retired track star experienced a global final as a coach for the very first time.

"New territory for me man," Boldon told the Express.

"I was nervous for that first round like never before, but she was so calm and assured she reassured me. Plus she was waving and smiling and talking to people before the race, so I said ok if she is that calm I should be too."

Boldon was very proud of his young charge.

"To be quite honest I am getting way too much credit for her progress. She is that good. She just needed someone to see it, believe In her and stop making her feel like she wasn't good enough compared to other athletes who were better known or higher rated. For me to be able to contribute to what she has done is amazing, because it's so unexpected. I never planned to be here, but I'm glad God put me here, because she has made my year!"

In Thursday's final, American-born St Fort clocked 11.19 seconds, her third T&T under-18 record in the space of nine hours. She clocked 11.39 in the first round, and then bettered her national standard with an 11.24 run in the semis. It took an 11.08 seconds Championship record run from American world youth record holder Candace Hill to deny St Fort the global title.

"Khalifa has been under-appreciated, under-coached, under-valued and under-rated for the past two years, so my surprise is not the times. I told her father she would run 11.2 when we started training last year. In practice I can see she is actually on course to run 11.0. She has had awful luck with no tailwinds at all in any of her big races since she has been ready to roll. The 11.19 was with no wind whatsoever.

"My plan," Boldon declared, "doesn't involve getting her ready for April or May. It involves getting her ready for July and August. The surprise for me was how well she performs under pressure. At 17!? She was up against the fastest girl in history, and her attitude was she will have to run her best race ever to beat me, which is what happened. Candace's time with no wind is superior to her 10.98 with a 2.0."

St Fort's 11.19 scorcher is 14-hundredths of a second faster than the 11.33 IAAF World Championship qualifying standard. Boldon said he wants the talented teen to represent the Red, White and Black at the August 22-30 World Champs in Beijing, China.

"I am going to officially ask Monday that she be sent to Beijing, even though it will be a little complicated with school. I don't think she should go just because of the times she ran and because only Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Michelle-Lee Ahye have run faster. I think she should go because it's an investment in arguably the best young female sprinter we have ever had.

"She is ready," Coach Ato continued, "her confidence is sky high and she is hungry. I had to tell her she could not practice today (Saturday), but we are back to work on Sunday (yesterday). She can run 11.0 with a tailwind and she has nothing to lose and everything to gain by being in Beijing in terms of experience and big stage reps."

Boldon added that St Fort will enhance T&T's chances in the women's 4x100m relay.

"As people saw from Colombia she will not be overwhelmed by the occasion. The women have done well in semi-finals and not so much in finals. I would like to be given a chance to fix that. They'll be medal contenders in Beijing, Khalifa or not, but Khalifa can make that team better. Khalifa on that relay is an investment in the country's future, and the start of ending our Olympic drought on the women's side."

No female athlete from T&T has ever achieved a podium finish at the Olympic Games. Boldon believes that statistic could change at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Next year might be a bit early for an individual Olympic medal (from Khalifa) at 18, but relay definitely. I think Kelly-Ann and Michelle are capable of ending the Olympic female drought individually, but if not, Khalifa is the one, in Tokyo 2020 when she will be 22. I was that age," Boldon ended, "when I ended the drought from 1976-96."

St Fort's silver was T&T's only medal at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships. It ended a 10-year drought at the global under-18 meet, and earned the country joint-26th spot on the medal table, with Austria, Norway, Poland and Turkey.

United States finished first with eight gold medals, five silver and six bronze, while Kenya (five gold, four silver, four bronze) and Japan (three gold, one silver, one bronze) were second and third, respectively. Jamaica, with one gold medal, were joint-16th, with Ecuador, Moldova, Romania and Switzerland.

[Trini1]

I can definitely see Khalifa running 1st leg on that relay. She has a text book start. Given KAB and MLA are the only ones going to be on 2nd or anchor. Leaving SH, RT, KD. Now Kalifa has proven she can hang with them. A spot should be given to her.

[gawd on pitch]

I can definitely see Khalifa running 1st leg on that relay. She has a text book start. Given KAB and MLA are the only ones going to be on 2nd or anchor. Leaving SH, RT, KD. Now Kalifa has proven she can hang with them. A spot should be given to her.

I totally agree with you.

Any word on MLA and KS? The NAAA will probably name the team 2 weeks before the WCs. I think MLA will be named to the 4x100. If not I think the relay will be:

KSF to KAB to RT to SH.

I think this team can bring us a medal. Throw MLA in and a medal is guaranteed.

[Socapro]

Borel, Cedenio on show in Stockholm
Thursday, July 30 2015 (T&T Newsday)

2015 Pan Am Games Shot Put Gold Medalist, Cleopatra Borel

TWO OF Trinidad and Tobago’s outstanding performers at the just-concluded Pan Am Games are expected to compete today at the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) Diamond League Meet in Sweden.

Today’s Stockholm BAUHAUS Athletics meeting is the last of the Diamond League series before the IAAF World Championships in Beijing; there will be a five-week break before the final two meets are run off.

Pan Am Shot Put champion Cleopatra Borel and 400 metre silver medallist Machel Cedenio will be the country’s lone representatives on show.

Borel, who threw the shot 18.67 metres for her gold medal in Toronto, followed that performance with 18.53m and a bronze medal at last week’s Diamond League meet in London; she has been consistently third among the world’s best, and will be seeking to maintain her form as the World Championships draw closer.

Cedenio finished second in the Pan Am 400 metres, clocking 44.70 seconds, and returned two nights later to anchor TT to victory in the Men’s 4x400m relay final— the quartet’s winning time being two minutes, 59.60 seconds. Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, however, and sprinter Keston Bledman will not be in Sweden, as neither the Men’s Javelin nor the Men’s 100 metres are among the disciplines scheduled on today’s programme.