media_artricles :: 2014

Gordon 5th at World Indoors

Ahye in 60 semis

Lalonde Gordon finished fifth in the men’s 400 metres final at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, in Sopot, Poland, yesterday. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete clocked 46.39 seconds.

Pavel Maslak struck gold in 45.24—a new Czech Republic indoor record. Chris Brown became the oldest ever 400m medallist at the World Indoors meet, the 35-year-old Bahamian seizing silver in an indoor best 45.58 seconds. And bronze went to American Kyle Clemons in 45.74.

Another American, David Verburg got home fourth in 46.21 seconds, while sixth spot went to Costa Rica’s 2012 world indoor champion Nery Brenes (47.32).

Gordon was fortunate to secure a lane in the championship race, after finishing fourth in his semi-final on Friday. The T&T quarter-miler was promoted to third following the disqualification of Jamaica’s Edino Steele for a lane violation, and was handed a berth in the final.

Of the World Indoor Championship entrants, Gordon had the fastest time this season, 45.17 seconds, and was expected to be a strong contender for gold. The 2012 Olympic Games double bronze medallist won his first round heat in 46.07 seconds, and looked set to challenge for the title. But his sub-par performance in the semis meant Gordon had to face the starter in lane two, a tough assignment for the 25-year-old.

Meanwhile, Michelle-Lee Ahye will be on show today, the third and final day of the Championships. At 10.29 a.m. (TT time), the T&T sprinter will run in lane six in the third and final women’s 60m semi-final heat. The final is scheduled for 1.05 p.m.

In the opening round, yesterday, Ahye finished second in heat three in an impressive 7.14 seconds—just one-hundredth of a second outside the 7.13 national record she shares with Kelly-Ann Baptiste. Germany’s Verena Sailer topped the heat in 7.13, while the third automatic qualifying berth up for grabs in the race was secured by South Africa’s Carina Horn (7.36).

Another T&T athlete, Geronne Black finished fifth in heat five in 7.45 seconds, and was eliminated.

Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahoure won heat six in 7.09 seconds to lead all qualifiers into the semis. Jamaica’s two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce topped heat two in 7.12—the second fastest time. Sailer and the heat four winner, American Tianna Bartoletta were joint-third at 7.13, while Ahye was fifth at 7.14.

Ahye will square off against Fraser-Pryce in the semis.

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