St Fort steals show*
…among 21 day 1 Carifta qualifiers
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Mar 5, 2016, 8:58 pm AST (T&T Express)Khalifa St Fort (centre) on her way to winning Girls U20 100m Final at TT CARIFTA Trials 2016;
St Fort's training pardner, Sarah Wollaston (first from left) placed second in 12.04 seconds and third spot went to Jada Barker (second from left) in 12.08. —Photo: CURTIS CHASEKhalifa St Fort was the star of the show on day one of the Carifta trials, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday.
St Fort produced a sizzling run in the girls’ under-20 100 metres final, stopping the clock at 11.39 seconds, well inside the 11.80 qualifying standard. The 2.2 metres per second following wind was just above the 2.0 legal limit.
By the time St Fort came up from her drive phase, the race was over as a contest, the American-born sprinter powering to the easiest of victories. Sarah Wollaston, who trains with St Fort in Florida, USA, finished a distant second in 12.04 seconds, while third spot went to Jada Barker (12.08).
St Fort drew attention off the track as well. After crossing the finish line, the 2015 World Youth Championship 100m silver medallist somehow ended up in the Crawford Stadium moat. Her coach, quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon rushed over to attend to his young charge. But fears were allayed, the 18-year-old athlete emerging with her broad trademark smile intact.
Earlier in the afternoon, St Fort, running into a 1.7 headwind, won her qualifying heat in 11.79 seconds.
There were 24 qualifying performances yesterday from 21 athletes.
Like St Fort, Tyrell Edwards repeated his qualifying performance, the young sprinter bettering the 10.85 seconds boys’ under-18 100m standard in all three rounds. In the final, though, he had to settle for the runner-up spot, behind an impressive Adell Colthrust.
As he crossed the line, an exultant Colthrust looked across at his well beaten rivals. His 10.64 seconds run, with a 2.1 wind at his back, gave Colthrust the win, ahead of Edwards (10.75) and Avindale Smith (10.81).
There were also qualifying performances yesterday from Renee Stoddard in the girls’ under-20 400m (55.30) and Onal Mitchell in the boys’ under-18 400m (48.62).
Omari Benoit was among four jumpers who attained qualifying standards. He cleared the bar at 2.00 metres for top spot in the boys’ under-20 high jump.
Asha James led the way in the throws. Winner of the girls’ under-18 javelin with a 43.59m effort, James was one of five throwers making the Carifta grade.
And Jeminise Parris was among three qualifying hurdlers. She bolted to the line in the girls’ under-20 100m hurdles in a wind-assisted 13.92 seconds.
Carifta trials continue from 10am today at the Crawford Stadium.
DAY 1 QUALIFIERS (21 athletes, 24 performances)Boys’ under-20 high jump (2.00m)
Omari Benoit (Falcons) — 2.00m
Girls’ under-20 100m (11.80)
Khalifa St Fort (unattached)—11.39 (wind: +2.2), final
Khalifa St Fort (unattached) — 11.79 (wind: -1.7), semis
Girls’ under-20 400m (55.30)
Renee Stoddard (Speed Factory) — 55.30
Girls’ under-20 100m hurdles (14.60)
Jeminise Parris (Memphis Pioneers) — 13.92 (wind: +2.9)
Girls’ under-20 discus (40.00m)
Shaiann Charles (D’Abadie Progressive) — 41.70m
Chelsea James (Falcons) — 40.93m
Boys’ under-18 100m (10.85)
Adell Colthrust (Abilene) — 10.64 (wind: +2.1), final
Tyrell Edwards (Toco Titans) — 10.75 (wind: +2.1), final
Avindale Smith (Abilene) — 10.81 (wind: +2.1), final
Ako Hislop (Kaizen Panthers) — 10.82 (wind: +2.1), final
Tyrell Edwards (Toco Titans) — 10.80 (wind: +2.0), semis
Tyrell Edwards (Toco Titans) — 10.82 (wind: +1.6), round 1
Boys’ under-18 400m (48.90)
Onal Mitchell (Point Fortin New Jets)—48.62
Boys under-18 long jump (6.80m)
Josiah Edwards (Abilene) — 6.97m (wind: +3.0)
Aaron Cruickshank (D’Abadie Progressive) — 6.88m (wind: +1.2)
Clement Campbell (Memphis Pioneers) — 6.87m (wind: +2.1)
Boys’ under-18 shot put (15.20m)
Konnel Jacob (Jaguars) — 15.23m
Girls’ under-18 100m (12.00)
Jenea Spinks (Concorde) — 11.98 (wind: -1.7), final
Akilah Lewis (Concorde) — 11.83 (wind: +1.8 ), semis
Girls’ under-18 100m hurdles (14.70)
Anya Akili (Kaizen Panthers) — 14.50 (wind: +2.9)
Cheziah Phillip (Toco Titans) — 14.52 (wind: +2.9)
Girls’ under-18 shot put (13.50m)
Ianna Roach (Memphis Pioneers) — 14.13m
Girls’ under-18 javelin (40.00m)
Asha James (Zenith) — 43.59m
MITCHELL BAGS ONE-LAP GOLD: Onal Mitchell, second from right, en route to victory in the Boys Under-18 400 metres final, on day one of the Carifta trials, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday. Mitchell clocked 48.62 seconds. Jaden St Louis, left, Joshua Joseph, second from left, and Jahi Hernandez, right, finished eighth, sixth and fourth, respectively. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE