17th Pan American Games 2015: Fri.10th to Sun.26th July (CIBC Stadium, Toronto)

[Deeks]

Breds, Allyuh know how to rub it in! But I see it more like a friendly payback to our Bahamian cousins. Remember at the World Relays how Chris Brown, burned and smoked our yute in  the final leg. Well, they try that again, but it did not work this time.

[gawd on pitch]

Breds, Allyuh know how to rub it in! But I see it more like a friendly payback to our Bahamian cousins. Remember at the World Relays how Chris Brown, burned and smoked our yute in  the final leg. Well, they try that again, but it did not work this time.

That Bahamas team was missing 3 key runners. When Chris Brown and Steven Gardiner come into the picture, I don't know if we will be able to answer. We will need a 44.6 Lalonde and a 44.3 Lendore to beat the Bahamians.

[Deeks]

Breds, Allyuh know how to rub it in! But I see it more like a friendly payback to our Bahamian cousins. Remember at the World Relays how Chris Brown, burned and smoked our yute in  the final leg. Well, they try that again, but it did not work this time.

That Bahamas team was missing 3 key runners. When Chris Brown and Steven Gardiner come into the picture, I don't know if we will be able to answer. We will need a 44.6 Lalonde and a 44.3 Lendore to beat the Bahamians.

We did not have Lendore then and we did not have in TO. But anyway, anyhow, it will be a nice matchup in Beijing and Rio.

[Sando prince]

See the final medal standings. I am satisfied with T&T overall team performance. This is a foundation we can build on for the future. NOW look at Cuba. See how they are successful in various sporting disciplines. A country that is not wealthy and don't have the same financial means as a US or Canada

http://results.toronto2015.org/IRS/en/general/medal-count.htm

[Socapro]

Lewis buoyed by Pan Am success
By Mark Pouchet (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 26, 2015, 9:32 pm AST

TTOC president Brian Lewis

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis described the country’s best ever medal haul at a Pan Am Games as “significant and encouraging” but added that there is no room for complacency as the TTOC continues to encourage systems and infrastructure for future success at the other multi-discipline Games like the 2016 Rio Olympics and beyond.

Team TTO picked up eight medals including three gold, Men’s 4 x 400 relay (Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Emanuel Mayers, Machel Cedenio) Cleopatra Borel; and Keshorn Walcott), three silver (Mickel Thomas, Njisane Phillip, Machel Cedenio) and two bronze (George Bovell & Men’s 4x1 relay), a new record haul for the country, bettering the returns from the Winnipeg 1967 edition (two gold, two silver, three bronze) and the Santo Domingo 2003 edition (two gold, four silver, one bronze)

“For the country yet again sports continues to bring a positive image to Trinidad and Tobago. The performances of the contingent at the Pan Am Games were significant and encouraging,” Lewis said, adding that the TTOC had set a goal of eight medals for these Games.

Lewis said some of the incentives and systems—the number of athletes on Olympic Solidarity, PASO scholarships, the ten or more golds by 2024 athlete welfare and preparation programme, the introduction of the medal bonuses, had helped.

“We are starting to put into place the infrastructure and systems at the level of the TTOC and we will be continuing to work with stakeholders like the NSOs, SPORTT and the Ministry of Sport to improve the process for our athletes to succeed,” Lewis said.

Lewis said this country’s results at the Toronto 2015 was a clear signal of the talent existing in the country and the TTOC would continue now to focus on Rio 2016 to ensure that athletes who have qualified or are likely to qualify for those quadrennial Games receive the needed assistance.

Lewis believed the athletes showed the talent and the desire to achieve a success, revelling in the performance of T&T’s 4 x 400m gold medal performance but also noting the performances of some who didn’t medal.

“When we look at young(Christian) Marsden, (Dylan) Carter, the more experienced ones got the job done. When you look at Sparkle Mc Knight Mc Knight, Semoy Hackett and Kelly Ann Baptiste, coming back after a long lay off, it is really important that we look past these Games now and start taking it up to the next level, because while Pan Am medals are a good indicator, both the Worlds and Olympic standards are going to be higher and we must encourage and facilitate our athletes moving up to that level,” Lewis said.

Lewis believed the introduction of the medal bonus created a positive vibe and the TTOC will continue to bring on new corporate partners. “The athlete welfare and support is going to be heightened by TTOC. We will focus even more and dedicate some attention to athlete and welfare services,” Lewis said.

“That’s what I would like to work on now. I think one of the pluses coming out of to 2015 more people may now believe in the potential of the athletes. A lot of people were sceptical before about the whole ten golds by 2024, saying there lacked systems and policies in place, there were gaps. I think that the buy-in is coming. There are some gaps, targets we need to set incrementally, some systemic issues that need to be addressed including the use of facilities and access to them by the NSOs,” he added.

“We need to look at whether we do more in support, from the sport science aspect. So there is a lot that still needs to be done but I genuinely and sincerely believe we can build from here and I call on stakeholders to let’s use the Pan Am as a platform to move forward in a real powerful and significant way.” Lewis concluded.

[Socapro]

Celebration time!
By Fazeer Mohammed (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 26, 2015, 9:43 pm AST

GOLDEN QUARTET: The gold medal winning Trinidad and Tobago Men’s 4 x 400m relay team,
from left to right, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio, Emanuel Mayers and Jarrin Solomon, drape
themselves in the national flag at the York Stadium, Canada, on Saturday night.
—Photo courtesy TTOC

On a day like this, it’s heartening to be able to focus on sporting excellence.

With a weekend to absorb the ramifications of Friday’s prison break and on the 25th anniversary of the coup attempt that ushered in a new level of violence and criminality in this country, results on the field of play again offer us hope for a better, safer, more disciplined and productive Trinidad and Tobago, if only we could appreciate the serious symbolism behind the apparent triviality of T20 cricket and the Pan Am Games.

Yes, the Pan Am Games, a multi-sport event that pales in comparison to Olympics and World Championships, and will be struggling today to grab the attention of a local sporting public that would have been caught up in the excitement and hype generated by Dwayne Bravo leading the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel against compatriot Kieron Pollard’s Barbados Tridents in last evening’s final of the Hero Caribbean Premier League.

Whatever the result at the Queen’s Park Oval, it would have been a victory for T&T cricket in this most abbreviated format, given that there were no fewer than 14 natives of the twin-islands state in the two squads, even if all didn’t get on the field for the showpiece occasion.

Add to that the vital trio of Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons and Sunil Narine in the Guyana Amazon Warriors that went under to the Red Steel in Saturday’s final, and not forgetting fast bowler Shannon Gabriel’s impact for the St Lucia Zouks and batsman Evin Lewis’ contribution for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and it should become clear that this franchise format has actually benefited more Trinidad and Tobago cricketers than it would have in a strictly territorial structure.

But that’s not today’s focus. It’s the exploits of the squad that represented the red, white and black over the past fortnight in Toronto to the extent that they will now return home from Canada’s largest metropolis with a team record eight medals, bettering by one the tally of seven at the games of 1967 (Winnipeg), 1971 (Cali) and 2003 (Santo Domingo).

Significantly, the haul of three gold medals by shot putter Cleopatra Borel, Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott and the 4 x 400-metre men’s relay team is not only the most earned by T&T at a single Pan Am but also equals the nation’s entire gold medal haul at the hemispheric event over the previous ten editions, from 1975 in Mexico City to 2011 back in Mexico, this time in the city of Guadalajara.

No amount of praise can be enough for 36-year-old Borel, our 2014 “Sportswoman of the Year,” whose gold with a throw of 18.67 metres follows bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and silver four years ago. As Kwame Laurence, one of the most experienced athletics journalists in this part of the world noted on Friday, the day after her golden effort, this is no guarantee of success at the Rio Olympics next year, simply because the quality of the field will be considerably higher there.

But that is speculation. What is fact is that this consistent and enduring competitor continues to do the country proud on the world stage.

At the other end of the scale you’ve got Walcott, a bolt-out-of-the-blue Olympic champion at 19 years of age at London 2012 in an event which has no tradition in this country and at an age when he should have been far too young to challenge the best in the world.

Not surprisingly, he struggled with expectation – and injury – in the aftermath of that astonishing success. In 2015 though, he seems to have settled into the right sort of groove and assuming he can maintain his form going into next month’s World Championships in Beijing, has the chance to make amends for a disappointing outing at the 2013 event in Moscow.

Then to top off the golden effort we had the quartet of Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Emmanuel Mayers and Machel Cedenio (already a silver medallist in the individual 400), the anchorman running a brilliant final leg to overhaul Cuba and the United States to reach the finish line first.

It is a measure of the regard in which they are held that George Bovell’s bronze in the swimming pool in the 50-metre freestyle, Njisane Phillip’s silver in the sprint at the cycling velodrome and the third-place finish by the men’s sprint relay quartet were greeted as if they were in line with general expectations.

However the same cannot be said of Mikel Thomas’ surprise silver in an excellent 110-metre hurdles final in which the top five finishers achieved personal bests.

These are the stories that inspire, the achievements that should be celebrated in the face of so much negativity on this day.

[Socapro]

Golden Relay
Best ever Pan Am haul for T&T
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jul 26, 2015, 9:47 pm AST

STRUCK GOLD: Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Men's 4 x 400m team wear their gold
medals, from left to right, Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Emanuel Mayers, Machel Cedenio
while the Cubans squat with their silver medals.

A storming finish from Machel Cedenio in Toronto, Canada, late on Saturday night, propelled Trinidad and Tobago to men's 4x400 metres gold and the country's best-ever Pan American Games performance.

Renny Quow ran the leadoff leg for Team T&T, handing the baton to Jarrin Solomon. Hurdler Emanuel Mayers performed third leg duties. The three T&T athletes battled hard, but there was still a lot to do on the anchor leg.

Watch Cedenio beats the pack to lead T&T to gold at Pan Am Games (video courtesy ESPN)

Cedenio, the 400m silver medallist, was equal to the task, the 19-year-old quartermiler surging past the Bahamian and Cuban anchormen to snatch gold for T&T in two minutes, 59.60 seconds. Cuba claimed silver in 2:59.84, while United States clocked 3:00.21 to grab the bronze, ahead of Bahamas (3:00.34).

Saturday's 4x400m victory handed T&T a Pan Am Games relay title for the very first time.

The incredible run from Cedenio capped off a superb showing from Team T&T at Toronto 2015. The reigning world junior 400m champion's never-say-die attitude carried the country to three gold medals, three silver and two bronze, bettering the country's previous best Pan Am performance of two gold, four silver, one bronze at the 2003 Games in Dominican Republic.

T&T ended the 2015 Games in 15th spot on the medal table, just one rung below Jamaica (three gold, four silver, two bronze). United States topped the table with 103 gold medals, 81 silver and 81 bronze. Canada (78 gold, 69 silver, 70 bronze) and Brazil (41 gold 40 silver, 60 bronze) were second and third, respectively.

“This feels real good,” said Solomon. “After all the races this week, gold and a medal bonus is a nice way to top it off.”

Quow, Solomon, Mayers and Cedenio will get a US$9,000 payout from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee's (TTOC) 10Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation fund.

T&T also medalled in Saturday's men's 4x100m relay, Rondel Sorrillo, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Dan-Neil Telesford combining for bronze, albeit belated.

Anchorman Telesford crossed the line fourth, but a protest was filed against Canada by United States, Brazil and T&T for a lane violation. According to the information coming out of Toronto, the protest was initially thrown out, and Canada got gold.

However, about two hours after the 8.05pm race, there was news that the Canadians were in fact disqualified, and bronze was awarded to Sorrillo, Bledman, Callender and Telesford.

T&T clocked 38.69 seconds to finish just behind silver medallists Brazil (38.68). Canada's disqualification handed gold to United States in 38.27.

And in the women's 4x400m relay, Janeil Bellille, Romona Modeste, Alena Brooks and Sparkle McKnight combined for seventh spot in 3:33.31. United States struck gold with a 3:25.68 clocking, finishing ahead of Jamaica (3:27.27) and Canada (3:27.74).

[Socapro]

PAN AM GAMES
NAAA extends congratulations to its athletes
Published: Sunday, July 26, 2015 (T&T Guardian)

From left, Sparkle McKnight of Trinidad and Tobago; Shamier Little, of the United States; Sarah Wells, of Canada; and Deborah Rodriguez, of Uruguay; race during the finals of the women's 400 metre hurdles at the Pan Am Games on July 22 in Toronto. Little won the gold medal in the event. AP Photo

The National Association of Athletics Administration of T&T (NAAA) has extended congratulations to T&T’s successful track and field team which competed at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada during the week.

In a media release yesterday, the NAAA said: “We would like to congratulate Cleopatra Borel, Keshorn Walcott, Machel Cedenio and Mikel Thomas on their latest achievements and wish them all the best as they continue to prepare for the World Championships being held in Beijing, China from August 22-30, and the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Borel is the very first woman and only the sixth T&T athlete in history to win Gold at the Pan American Games. Borel’s winning throw of 18.67m came in the second round of competition. With this Gold, Borel now has a complete set of Pan American Games medals, as she won Silver in 2011, and Bronze in 2007.

Keshorn, won the men’s javelin throw, with a throw of 83.27 and became the seventh athlete in history with a Pan Am Gold, he can now add this Gold medal to his many Carifta and CAC, World Jr Championship, Continental Cup and Olympic medals What most of you do not know is that Mr Walcott injured his ankle a week ago while competing in Monaco and had to wear a soft cast for about four days while in Toronto.

Yet he was able to show the heart, determination and temperament of a true champion to go out there and perform with this injury and still bring home the Gold. The winning throw came in his second round, he fouled the third and the passed on his last three throws, protecting the ankle from any further injury, with Worlds just one month away.

Nineteen-year-old Machel Cedenio, the 2014 World Jr Champion, won Silver in the men’s 400m dash in a time of 44.70, and became only the fourth quarter miler in the history of the Pan Am Games to win a medal over this distance. Ian Morris who also won silver was the last athlete to do this way back in 1991.

Not only did Mikel Thomas win a Silver medal at the games, he also ran his personal best 13.17 setting a New National Record in the process and became the first male T&T hurdler ever, to medal at the Pan Am Games. Well done ladies and gents, you have made us proud.”

[Socapro]

Crawford lauds golden Pan Am duo’s coach
By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH Sunday, July 26 2015 (T&T Newsday)

Hasley Crawford & Jehue Gordon chat at Hasley Crawford Stadium

Trinidad and Tobago’s first ever Olympic gold medallist, Hasely Crawford, has credited the recent international accomplishments of national field athletes, Keshorn Walcott and Cleopatra Borel, to their masterful tutor, Ismael Lopez Mastrapa.

Mastrapa is the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) throws coach and is considered this nation’s best kept secret to sporting success. After taking a 19-year-old Walcott to Olympic men’s javelin gold in 2012, Mastrapa has now built the Toco-bred athlete into one of the most feared throwers on the planet. Additionally, his female prospect, Borel, also maintains her position among the world’s best shot putters, after contemplating retirement from the sport back in 2012.

The Cuban’s successes over the past three years have seen sporting history created on several occasions for TT with Walcott most recently joining the over 90m club with a mesmerising golden throw (90.16m) at the Lausanne Diamond League meet followed by Borel (shot put) becoming this nation’s first ever female Pan American gold medallist on Wednesday.

Crawford held in high regard the works of Mastrapa, “He is a qualified and sought after coach. I can remember when he started the throws programme with the NAAA’s and he did up one of his first reports for us. It was so comprehensive. Mastrapa is no fly-by-night coach. He is a very qualified, structured and organised coach. His reports on his athletes are flawless and very professional. I do not know why some of our local coaches cannot learn from him or at least take a page out of his coaching book.”

The 1976 Summer Games 100m gold medallist also hailed Walcott as a ‘true patriot’ having competed at the Pan Am Games earlier this week nursing a slight ankle injury.

“He (Walcott) was a bit touch and go before the Pan Ams and was unsure if he would have been competing due to an ankle injury,” added Crawford. “Winning gold after three throws and nursing a minor injury proves that he is a true patriot. To go out there, one month before the World Championships, which is a much more important meet, and win gold shows what kind of man and athlete he is.”

The NAAA executive member also lauded the exploits of Borel, who only two years ago after placing 12th in the women’s shot put at the London Games, considered retirement from the sport. Crawford however, was pleased that the female athlete never fully went through with such a rash decision.

“I could remember two years ago she wanted to retire. After the 2012 Olympics, she was training at the (Hasely Crawford) Stadium and told me that she wanted to quit. I told her that she had nothing to lose. Now she’s teamed up with her new coach and doing quite well. Borel has bounced back from a rough time and she is doing wonders for Trinidad and Tobago on the world stage. She deserves a lot of credit,” he concluded.

[Socapro]

Relay gold gives T&T best Pan Am show
Published: Monday, July 27, 2015 (T&T Guardian)

Trinidad and Tobago's Machel Cedenio, left, crosses the finish line to win the gold medal
for his team in the men's 4x400 metre relay at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Saturday.
Cuba's Yoandys Lescay, second from right, finished second, but the team was disqualified,
giving the United States' Kerron Clement, second from left, and his teammates the silver medal.
At right is Jeffery Gibson of the Bahamas, who were award the bronze medal. AP Photo

A gold medal run in the Men’s 4x400m final rallied T&T to its most successful showing ever at the Pan American Games at the CIBC Athletics Stadium in Toronto on Saturday night. The quartet of Jarrin Solomon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon recorded a season’s best of 2:59.60 to narrowly edge the Cuban contingent of Raidel Acea, Adrian Chacon, Williams Collazo and Jose Luis Gaspar (2:59.84) for the title. The USA, represented by Jeshua Anderson, Marcus Chambers, Kerron Clement, Kyle Clemons and James Harris, nabbed third in 3:00.21.

It marked T&T’s third gold at the games and eighth medal overall, bettering the performances of the 1967 (Winnipeg), 1971 (Cali) and 2003 (Santo Domingo) national teams, which each managed seven.   

The foursome joined Cleopatra Borel (shot put) and Keshorn Walcott (javelin) as T&T’s other gold medallists.

The haul ranked T&T 15th of 29 countries in the standings while its six athletics medals (3-2-1) placed it fifth in the sport behind USA (13-14-14), Canada (11-7-8), Cuba (5-3-1) and Jamaica (3-3-2).

In other events, T&T’s men’s 4x100m team was awarded the bronze two hours after the final under controversial circumstances. Having originally placed fourth in 38.69, Rondel Sorrillo, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Dan-Neil Telesford were bumped up one spot when officials stripped the Canadian team of its gold, having adjudged that Gavin Smellie stepped on the line during the leaf leg.

The infraction was allegedly brought to the attention of the officials by former T&T sprinter Nic-Conner Alexander, who was watching from the stands. He tweeted shortly afterwards:     The officials said they didn't see any evidence of the lane infringement until yours truly pointed it out. #TeamTTO.   

A joint protest by USA, T&T and Brazil led to a two-hour deliberation between the officials, who ultimately disqualified the heartbroken Canadians. The decision also denied local hero Andre De Grasse a coveted triple crown following his golden runs in the 100m and 200m finals.

Canadian head coach Peter Eriksson was frustrated with the turn of events.

There is no margin of error when you step on the line, he said You step on the line you should be disqualified...however it happens many times that people can get away with it.   

Meanwhile, T&T’s Women’s 4x400m team, comprising of Janeil Bellille, Ramona Modeste, Alena Brooks and Sparkle Mc Knight, placed seventh in its final in 3:33.31. That event was won by the USA in 3:25.68 followed by Jamaica (3:27.27) and Canada (3:27.74).

The games formally ended last night with a Closing Ceremony featuring performances by rappers Kanye West and Pitbull.

List of T&T Medal Winners at 2015 Pan Am Games:

Gold

Cleopatra Borel (Women’s Shot Put)

Keshorn Walcott (Men’s Javellin)

Jarrin Solomon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon (Men’s 4x400m Relay)

Silver

Njisane Phillip (Men’s Match Sprint)

Machel Cedenio (Men’s 400m)

Mikel Thomas (Men’s 110m Hurdles)

Bronze

George Bovell (Men’s 50m Freestyle)

Rondel Sorrillo, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Dan-Neil Telesford (Men’s 4x100m Relay)

[Socapro]

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO RELAY TEAMS WIN GOLD AND BRONZE ON FINAL NIGHT OF PAN AM COMPETITION TO ACHIEVE HIGHEST EVER MEDAL HAUL
Sunday, 26 July 2015 07:46 (TTOC.org)

JUL 25Th 2015: T&T's Machel Cedenio came from behind to win the Gold medal during the
Men's 4x400m Finals at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. Photo: Allan V. Crane/TTOC.

Sunday July 26th, Toronto, Canada– Trinidad and Tobago added two medals to its Pan Am total last night, claiming gold and bronze in the men’s 4x400 and 4x100 metre relays.

In the Men’s 4x400 relay, the quartet of Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Emmanuel Mayers and Machel Cedenio came together to produce a blistering season’s best time of 2.59.60 to take first place and the gold medal.  Quow ran an excellent first leg handing off to Solomon with a slight lead. Solomon maintained the pace and handed off to Mayers in second who briefly fell to third before Cedenio on anchor picked off the competitors from Cuba and the United States.

Following the race Solomon said, “This feels real good. After all the races this week, gold and a medal bonus is nice way to top it off.” Solomon, Cedenio, Quow and Mayers will receive US$9000 from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s (TTOC) 10Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation fund.


JUL 25Th 2015: T&T's 4X100 Bronze Medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
Photo: Allan V. Crane/TTOC.

In the men’s 4 x100 relay the sprint quartet of Rondel Sorillo, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callendar and Dan-Neil Telesford finished 3rd to claim the bronze in a time of 38.69. The race was not without controversy as Canada originally claimed victory. A protest was launched by the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil however claiming a lane violation by Canada in the third leg handover. The challenge proved to be successful and Canada was eventually disqualified.

Speaking after the race, Callendar said, “There are rules in every sport and we have to abide by it. It’s not the way we expected to win but but we’ll take this bronze; and continue moving forward to every meet, trying to perfect our chemistry so by the time world championships comes around we can get the gold.” Callendar also expressed joy about the medal bonus that they successful relay team members will receive from the TTOC.

In the Women’s 4x400 final, the relay quartet of Janeil Belille, Romona Modeste, Alena Brooks and Sparkle McKnight finished 7th in a time of 3:33:31.  Out on the road, 2007 Pan Am silver medallist, Emile Abraham placed 8th out of thirty competitors in the men’s cycling road race with a time of 3:46:35. It was an extremely competitive race with Venezuelan Miguel Ubeto claiming the gold in 3:46:26 and Eric Marcotte of the United States and Boivin Guillame of Canada claiming the silver and bronze in the same time.

Finally, in field hockey Trinidad and Tobago defeated Cuba 13-0 to end the tournament ranked 7th.

Trinidad and Tobago ends this year’s Pan Am Games ranked 15th with eight medals (3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze), one more than it’s highest ever Pan Am medal haul.

[Deeks]

Imagine if KAB and Keston had medaled. But congrats to the athletes.

[Socapro]

Imagine if KAB and Keston had medaled. But congrats to the athletes.

Plus our Women's 4x100m relay team which I believe was sure to medal had they not messed-up their baton exchange between KAB and Hackett in the 4x1 Heats.
We are in need of a good relay coach to ensure our relay teams will be safer and more efficient with their baton exchanges and hopefully Ato can help us out in that department.

[Socapro]

TT’s best-ever Pan Am medal haul
By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH Monday, July 27 2015 (T&T Newsday)

GOLDEN QUARTET: Trinidad and Tobago's triumphant 4x400m Pan Am team (from left)
Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio, Emanuel Mayers and Jarrin Solomon proudly display their
gold yesterday at the medal ceremony in Toronto, Canada

NATIONAL quarter-miler, Machel Cedenio masterfully anchored Trinidad and Tobago to its third and final gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games, when he defied the odds in the Men’s 4x400 metre relay final on the penultimate night of action at the CIBC Athletics Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday.

The 20-year old Presentation College, San Fernando graduate, and teammates Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon and Emmanuel Mayers, combined to produce a mesmerising season’s best time of 2:59.60 in the final, ahead of silver medallists Cuba (2:59.84) and bronze receivers USA (3:00.21). Running out of lane eight, Quow ran a strong opening leg and was first to pass the baton off. Jarrin Solomon maintained a top three position on his lap and handed over to Mayers, who carried his team’s momentum around the track to an in-form Cedenio, now clearly a fair distance behind the race leaders. At 200m out, it seemed they were destined for bronze. However, the 2014 IAAF World Youth Championships winner had other plans, and began a forceful surge towards the finish line with approximately 100m to go. Cedenio would shift gears on the home straight and blow past a blindly confident Bahamas and Cuba to steal gold in fine style.

The national quartet became TT’s first sprint team to capture gold at the Games and also pocketed a US$9,000 from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s medal bonus – an integral part of their 10Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund. Following the race, Solomon said, “This feels real good. After all the races this week, gold and a medal bonus is nice way to top it off.”

In the semis, TT had advanced third-fastest in 3:01.58, behind the Bahamas (3:01.00) and Cuba (3:01.17). One interesting point to note is that TT clocked their season’s best time and captured Pan Am gold without the likes of IAAF world ranked number eight, Deon Lendore, and London Olympic 400m and 4x400m bronze medallist, Lalonde Gordon.

Earlier, the Men’s 4x100m relay outfit (Rondel Sorrillo, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender, Dan-Neil Telesford) were controversially bumped up from their original fourth place (38.69s) finish and into third, when race winners Canada were disqualified. A protest by silver medallists USA (38.27s), third placed Brazil (38.68s) and TT was upheld, and Canada were disqualified on the grounds that a runner stepped on the line that separated lanes seven and eight..

The women’s team crashed out on Saturday, due to an unsuccessful baton exchange in the semi-finals.

In the Women’s 4x400m final however, TT’s Janeil Bellille, Ramona Modeste, Alena Brooks and Sparkle McKnight placed seventh overall in 3:33.31.

Emile Abraham, the 2007 Pan Am silver medallist placed eighth out of 30 competitors in the Men’s cycling road race with a time of 3:46:35. Venezuelan Miguel Ubeto claimed the gold in 3:46:26 while the USA’s Eric Marcotte and Boivin Guillame of Canada claimed the silver and bronze in the same time.

The 2015 TT Pan American contingent has now ended their Pan Am Games ranked 15th, with eight medals (three gold, three silver and two bronze), one more than its highest-ever Pan Am medal haul.

[Deeks]

Cedenio was the performance of this TF team. Absolutely no disrespect to Cleo and Walcott. Those last 20 metres where Cedenio made to pip on the tape was drama at its best. I did not realize it was that close.

[Socapro]

Cedenio was the performance of this TF team. Absolutely no disrespect to Cleo and Walcott. Those last 20 metres where Cedenio made to pip on the tape was drama at its best. I did not realize it was that close.

I particularly enjoyed how Machel handled Kerron Clement on the last leg when Clement was doing his best to get his adopted country USA pass T&T on the anchor leg. Everytime Clement tried to make a move past Machel, he responded. I suspect that Kerron Clement is now wishing he was part of the T&T 4x4 squad instead and did not deflect. 

[Deeks]

I remember when Clement was the big people was pissed with him because he choose the US and because he was on the other side of the fence. But look how we have developed our own squad. We have Cedenio, Gordon, Lendore, Quow, Mayers. So I don't know what is all the crying about Clement. I was surprised he still running.

[Trini1]

Interesting article from T&T Newsday.

Crawford: Sprinters need more endurance work
Monday, July 27 2015

NATIONAL TRACK legend Hasely Crawford has cited a lack of intense training over the 200 metre distance as Trinidad and Tobago’s primary downfall in the men and women’s 100m individual events at the just concluded Toronto edition of the Pan American Games.

TT advanced to the finals of both male and female versions of the 100m in commanding style but were unable to execute when it mattered most, and failed to secure any podium places in their respective events. Returning sprinters Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.05) and Semoy Hackett (11.16) placed fifth and eighth respectively, while reigning national 100m sprint king, Keston Bledman (10.12) was fourth.

TT’s first ever Olympic gold medallist expressed the view that the trio were unable to remain in top form after enduring two rounds of qualifier competition prior to the medal race.

“I think the three of them, including Richard Thompson, have to run some more 200 metres,” said the 1976 Summer Games 100m champion. “All the top athletes now, like Usain Bolt, are using the 200m as a gauge. And this is what I think needs to be done for both TT’s male and female athletes. They need to run more 200m so they can repeat a strong performance in the final after competing throughout the previous rounds.”

Crawford also commented on what he felt were misleading and negative comments about the sprinters on a radio programme last week.

“Baptiste and Hackett have had their challenges over the past two years and only recently returned to the international circuit,” explained Crawford. “What they have experienced is not an easy thing to go through. I personally think that they did exceptionally well, based on the fact that they did not have many 200m runs under their belt.

“They did well leading up to the finals and I think that was a fantastic achievement. After coming off two years of non-competition and making a finals, yes we wanted them to medal, but we have to understand what these women have been through,” he added.

As for Bledman, who clocked a blistering 9.86 seconds on home soil one month ago, Crawford observed that the Simplex athlete may have suffered an injury after his Pan Am semi-final run. According to him, Bledman was seen clutching his groin after the semi-final and was then visibly uncomfortable in the final race.

“I think he may have picked up on an injury just before the final and he did not seem himself. I did not speak to him but I can guarantee that he hurt that muscle hence the reason why he did not medal in the final. I think Bledman needs to work on his start, he’s not starting very well. He needs to do a lot of starts and a lot of ‘over-distance’. The speed is there but the strength isn’t. He cannot endure those three and four rounds of racing at the same time,” said the now 64-year old veteran athlete.

And with the IAAF World Championships just under a month away, Crawford does not believe there is enough time to significantly improve these times. But, he is optimistic that 12 months of intense training and competition can produce several podium places for team TT at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“They have a year,” he stated. “If they want to get to that Olympic podium they need to do more 200m and over-distance work. Staying in top form after two and three races is when you show true mettle. But, we are not deterred and are intent on coming big at the Olympics next year.”

Crawford also lauded the recent exploits of youngster Machel Cedenio, who picked up silver in the Pam Am 400m and then hauled the 4x400m relay team to gold on Saturday night. He believes Cedenio is certain for an Olympic medal in Brazil.

“If you look at the history of track and field, 99 percent of the athletes that win the Junior Worlds go on to be become World and Olympic champions. I wanted a gold medal from Machel but I think he started too slow. Had he gone out a little faster, he would have won. He’s a great medal prospect once he continues in this stride. We have some bright prospects for the Olympics, once we get back Lendore (Deon) on the team, it’s a certain medal (4x400m),” the former track star concluded.

[Socapro]

Interesting article from T&T Newsday.

Crawford: Sprinters need more endurance work
Monday, July 27 2015

NATIONAL TRACK legend Hasely Crawford has cited a lack of intense training over the 200 metre distance as Trinidad and Tobago’s primary downfall in the men and women’s 100m individual events at the just concluded Toronto edition of the Pan American Games.

TT advanced to the finals of both male and female versions of the 100m in commanding style but were unable to execute when it mattered most, and failed to secure any podium places in their respective events. Returning sprinters Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.05) and Semoy Hackett (11.16) placed fifth and eighth respectively, while reigning national 100m sprint king, Keston Bledman (10.12) was fourth.

TT’s first ever Olympic gold medallist expressed the view that the trio were unable to remain in top form after enduring two rounds of qualifier competition prior to the medal race.

“I think the three of them, including Richard Thompson, have to run some more 200 metres,” said the 1976 Summer Games 100m champion. “All the top athletes now, like Usain Bolt, are using the 200m as a gauge. And this is what I think needs to be done for both TT’s male and female athletes. They need to run more 200m so they can repeat a strong performance in the final after competing throughout the previous rounds.”

Crawford also commented on what he felt were misleading and negative comments about the sprinters on a radio programme last week.

“Baptiste and Hackett have had their challenges over the past two years and only recently returned to the international circuit,” explained Crawford. “What they have experienced is not an easy thing to go through. I personally think that they did exceptionally well, based on the fact that they did not have many 200m runs under their belt.

“They did well leading up to the finals and I think that was a fantastic achievement. After coming off two years of non-competition and making a finals, yes we wanted them to medal, but we have to understand what these women have been through,” he added.

As for Bledman, who clocked a blistering 9.86 seconds on home soil one month ago, Crawford observed that the Simplex athlete may have suffered an injury after his Pan Am semi-final run. According to him, Bledman was seen clutching his groin after the semi-final and was then visibly uncomfortable in the final race.

“I think he may have picked up on an injury just before the final and he did not seem himself. I did not speak to him but I can guarantee that he hurt that muscle hence the reason why he did not medal in the final. I think Bledman needs to work on his start, he’s not starting very well. He needs to do a lot of starts and a lot of ‘over-distance’. The speed is there but the strength isn’t. He cannot endure those three and four rounds of racing at the same time,” said the now 64-year old veteran athlete.

And with the IAAF World Championships just under a month away, Crawford does not believe there is enough time to significantly improve these times. But, he is optimistic that 12 months of intense training and competition can produce several podium places for team TT at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“They have a year,” he stated. “If they want to get to that Olympic podium they need to do more 200m and over-distance work. Staying in top form after two and three races is when you show true mettle. But, we are not deterred and are intent on coming big at the Olympics next year.”

Crawford also lauded the recent exploits of youngster Machel Cedenio, who picked up silver in the Pam Am 400m and then hauled the 4x400m relay team to gold on Saturday night. He believes Cedenio is certain for an Olympic medal in Brazil.

“If you look at the history of track and field, 99 percent of the athletes that win the Junior Worlds go on to be become World and Olympic champions. I wanted a gold medal from Machel but I think he started too slow. Had he gone out a little faster, he would have won. He’s a great medal prospect once he continues in this stride. We have some bright prospects for the Olympics, once we get back Lendore (Deon) on the team, it’s a certain medal (4x400m),” the former track star concluded.

I already posted this article in a separate thread as I believe it deserves its own thread in order to get the full attention of our sprinters who may visit.
Here is the link: Crawford: Sprinters need more endurance work

[Socapro]

Two corrections to article below!

Lalonde Gordon did not run in the Pan Am 4x4 final but led off the relay team in the Heats. The gold medal winning 4x4 relay quartet in the Final at Pan Am was Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Emanuel Mayers and Machel Cedenio.

Also regards our Women’s 4x100m team that competed in the IAAF World Relays in May, they did not win a bronze medal this year but won a bronze medal last year.

Serrette: Toronto is just a stepping stone
By Nicholas Clarke (T&T Guardian)
Published: Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Ephraim Serrette, President of the NAAA TT.

President of the National Association of Athletic Administration Ephraim Serrette hopes that T&T’s performance at the recently concluded Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada will be a stepping stone for bigger things to come. T&T’s squad bagged eight medals at the meet, a national record, including six in track and field to rank 15th out of 29 countries overall.

Looking ahead to next month’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing and further down the road to the Olympics in Rio next year, Serrette said the country’s athletes were showing a lot of promise. “It was an exceptional performance,” he said. “The athletes did us proud and it augers well for the future.”

The track and field athletes won three gold medals (Kershorn Walcott (Javelin), Cleopatra Borel (Shot Put) and the 4x400 metres relay quartet of Machel Cedenio, Jarrin Solomon, Renny Quow and Lalonde Gordon. Mikel Thomas (110 Hurdles) and Machel Cedenio (400m) won silver. However, he noted that a different standard of competition would await them in Beijing.

“The Pam Am Games are something of a dress rehearsal for the World Championships, but we have to remember that the Americans and Jamaicans sent second and third string teams. They were still strong but a lot of big names were missing. It served as good preparation but our athletes who medalled will now have to turn up a gear to succeed on the world stage.”

Serrette commended the T&T Olympic Committee for recently launching its medal incentive programme, which he felt had had its desired effect. “I can’t say exactly how much it influenced the athletes but it was a good gesture by the TTOC,” he said. He added that he hoped to see improvement from the Women’s 4x100m team, which did not complete its semifinal in Toronto.

“I hope they will go back to drawing board,” he said. “We had high expectations from them after they won bronze at the IAAF World Relays in May. Now with Kelly Ann (Baptiste) and Semoy (Hackett) back on the team, they should be a very strong unit.”

[Peong]

So was Machel's run that good or did the Bahamian and Cuban do something wrong?
I never see a run down like that over 400m. 
It was impressive though, Clement had to eat some Trini dust dey.

[Socapro]

So was Machel's run that good or did the Bahamian and Cuban do something wrong?
I never see a run down like that over 400m. 
It was impressive though, Clement had to eat some Trini dust dey.

What we need are the official splits for all of the teams in the 4x4 final particularly for T&T and Machel Cedenio on the anchor leg but I suspect he did a 44 flat anchor or faster.

Just look at the shock and pain on Kerron Clement's face, in this photo below, that he couldn't get pass or keep up with Machel. In fact the Cuban and the Bahamian are also in pain and shock about Machel flying pass them!


JUL 25Th 2015: T&T's Machel Cedenio came from behind to win the Gold medal during the
Men's 4x400m Finals at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. Photo: Allan V. Crane/TTOC.

[Deeks]

Well, we have the stamp of approval from Crawfie. The knowledgeable TF forumites have always asserted that our sprinters needs to run more 200. Good observation guys, pro, gawk,Sando, etc.

[Socapro]

Pan Am gains no mask for sport ills
...says head of the Olympic Committee
By Sean Cazabon (T&T Guardian)
Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Men's 4x400m team wear their gold medals on podium;
back row from left to right, Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Emanuel Mayers, Machel Cedenio.
Front squatting are the Cubans with their silver medals.

Success at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, which ended at the weekend, should not be used to mask the failing systems that exist in sports, says Brian Lewis, president of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC).

T&T secured eight medals, three gold; three silver and two bronze but Lewis said the country should not be conned.

Lewis said: “I don’t want us to use that to cover the shortcomings and gaps that exist in the sports system in T&T. Much more have to be done. I do believe the best is yet to come.”

While medals were being won at the Pan American Games, said Lewis, many sporting disciplines in T&T, still did not have access to the country’s sporting facilities. Further, so-called sport fans were not committed to their preferred sport and the athletes that specialise in it, until the athletes were engaged in a do or die contest.

“We are building a lot of facilities, but there has to be a stadium use policy because as much as we are doing, a number of sportsmen and women and a number of national teams don’t have access to the facilities in the volume and times that they need,” he said.

Lewis described as “interesting” recent developments in the sports sector related to public/private partnerships. He has been paying particular attention to remarks by sports minister Brent Sancho who was on record declaring that sporting facilities must earn revenue and ultimately pay their way.

The TTOC officials and the line minister were at odds on this issue, however.

“I don’t know what the context of that is, but that needs to be very carefully thought through and discussed. If it is a Government policy and they make sport one of the key pillars of national development, then they will see the investment in sport as just that, an investment rather than as expenditure. From a policy perspective, I don’t see anybody saying that schools must be revenue earners; that health facilities must be revenue earners; that the national security facilities–the fire stations and the police stations–must be revenue earners,” said Lewis.

He added: “I am saying if sports facilities must be revenue earners in and of their own right, you are really telling me that you are not giving sport the same consideration and prioritisation that you are giving health, education and national security. I firmly believe that sport is an important aspect of national development.

“We see countries such as Singapore and Qatar and Brazil that have made sports a key part of whatever big vision they have for their sustainable development. We really need to get the policy makers and the politicians into that head space where sport is concern.”

But despite those issues, Lewis said the TTOC remained athlete focused and described the efforts of his executive and the initiatives to be achieved, as work in progress.

“As far as I am concerned, there is much more that the Olympic Committee can do and must do and I also think that the Olympic Committee cannot do it alone. Even in the context of ten or more Olympic gold medals by the year 2024, it must become more than a TTOC goal. It must become a national goal.

“There are gaps, there are weaknesses, there and short comings and short falls in the sports system in T&T and we need to address them, because if we don’t address them we are not going to be able to help our athletes push on to their full potential.” Lewis said.

[Socapro]

Team chemistry building says Callender
By Sean Nero (T&T Guardian)
Published: Published: Friday, July 31, 2015

Gold medal winner team of the United States, centre, Silver Medal winner team of Brazil, left, and bronze medal winner team of T&T pose during the Men’s 4x100 medal ceremony at the Pan Am Games Saturday, in Toronto. AP Photo

Olympic and Pan American Games medallist Emmanuel Callender says the determination of this country’s athletes to always excel has led to T&T’s improved medal position at the Pan American Games, which came to an end in Toronto, Canada, last weekend.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian at Piarco International Airport on the team’s return home on Tuesday morning, he said, “We came out with eight medals. We also came out with a lot of personal best. The team is a fairly new one. We have some new athletes running on the 4 x 100 relay. The chemistry is now starting to build. It’s a very good one.”

Of the relay team of which he was a member, Callender said, “We only had one day to practice before we ran that 4 by 100m. We had to pull it together as quickly as possible. I think we did very well. We came off the heat above a lot of other countries. Our hand-offs weren’t the best, but we can work on it and make things a lot better.”

With his sights already fixed on this country’s participation at the World Championships and other international meets later this year, Callender said the 4 by 100-metre relay team of which he was apart, which secured bronze for T&T, still needed to overcome some technical hurdles from the starter to the anchor, if they were to retain a place on the podium in the future.

During the time they spent together, he was clear that his teammates were undoubtedly committed. Commenting on his present form, the 100 metre sprinter said if the Rio 2016 Olympic was tomorrow he would not be ready. He believed same could be said for his teammates.

“I don’t think people understand what it takes to step up on that Olympic podium. It’s not an easy task. We have to work a lot closer with the Minister of Sport and the TTOC and other organisations and corporate T&T, to help the athletes in terms of finances because finances are a main part in preparation going towards the Olympic Games. Truth be told, most of the athletes don’t work. We have to depend on the Olympic Solidarity Fund and the Elite Funding to ensure that we stay healthy, pay coaching fees, pay rent and the other stuff so we could be on the medal podium,” he said.

[Socapro]

Borel dedicates Pan Am gold to young athletes
By Sean Nero (T&T Guardian)
Published: Monday, August 3, 2015

Cleopatra Borel...victory a boost to her confidence.

Pan American Games gold medallist Cleopatra Borel has described her shot put victory at the championships held in Toronto, Canada, last month as crucial boost to her confidence.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian from Switzerland where she is preparing for this month’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, she said: “When I received my gold medal after so many tries, I felt blessed to have accomplished a major goal for the 2015 season.

“I was very excited when I arrived in Toronto. I was throwing well. I had done three meets in Europe before the games and I felt ready.”

“However, Toronto was not as organised as it could have been. It was a little difficult for us because the gym facility was not conducive to our training. For example, when I snatch, I typically drop the weights on the floor.

“This was not possible in the Pan Am Village Gym, so coach had to help me lower the weights to the floor from above my head. There was also a long bus ride—45 minutes to an hour to and from the track training venue.

“So the logistics was not as simple as the Commonwealth Games (in Glasgow, Scotland). For me the Pan Am Village life was a little difficult. It was loud at night when you needed to sleep and the beds did not help.”

Even so, Borel knew she had worked too hard to allow distractions to force her from her prime objective.

The number of T&T nationals at the Games and in the Village delighted Borel. The staging of the Pan American Games coincided with pre-Caribana (T&T style Carnival) in the North American and the organiser’s hosted a festival parade one night.

“I think this is one of the best supported meets, in terms of people from T&T. During the anthem I sang with all my heart. There were lots of flags in the crowd and soca music on the back of a truck: a pick-up truck!

“After the competition, a group of Trinis called me over. They had flags and T&T shirts and were all so excited. One of my friends from St Stephen’s College, Brian Jackson was there with his wife and young son. Everyone was so happy.” she said.

Apart from the well-deserved fun moments Borel was able to experience, she did not forget what got her there.

“It is important for us (athletes) to get away from all the distractions of our daily lives and just focus on training and nothing else. I think this sort of focus pays of during big meets when every moment counts.

“I think that my experience allowed me to stay composed during the Pan Am Games. I really wanted to win a gold medal for T&T. I wanted our young athletes to know that it’s possible to live and train in T&T to be a success.

“It is my hope that I’ve opened the door for our female athletes and in four years, we will have many more medals on the female side.”