media_artricles :: 2014

Lalonde advances to 400m final

T&T’s Lalonde Gordon will challenge the men’s 400m final at the IAAF World Indoor Championship, in Soport, Poland, today from 3.30 pm. This after the current world leader (45.17) sneaked into the title-round after finishing third in his first semifinal heat, in 46.29 seconds, yesterday, the opening day of competition. Gordon initially placed fourth in the heat and out of contention for the final, before Jamaica’s Edino Steele, who finished third, was disqualified. Gordon made it to the semifinal after winning the opening heat (third overall) with a 46.07 run, and incidentally left Steele for second. “I just wanted to get out hard as my coach told me, lead the first half and control the race. I did what I had to do. I want to win every heat, control the race. I am studying indoors. Since I had a good year last year, I am taking indoors seriously,” said after he won the morning heat. “Training has been going good and I just want to get the best out of indoors this year.

T&T’s only other 400m runner Jarrin Solomon failed to progress past the preliminary stage with a 14th placed overall finish. He clocked 46.86 seconds for third out of five runners in heat two.Only one other Caribbean athlete, Chris Brown of the Bahamas qualified for the final. He placed first in the second semifinal and the third fastest time overall- 46.19 seconds. Today, two T&T female runners Michelle-Lee Ahye and Geronne Black will feature in the 60m heats, vying for spots in tomorrow’s semi-final and final. The heats will run off from 5.40 am, while the semifinals and final will run off tomorrow from 10.15 am and 1.05 pm, respectively.

Also yesterday, Jamaican pair of Patricia Hall and Kaliese Spencer have reached the final of the women’s 400m. Hall left no doubt about her place in today’s final by winning the first semi-final in a time of 52.82 seconds while Spencer finished second in the second semi-final in 51.58, behind winner American Francena Mccorory (51.35). Bahamian Shaunae Miller, a former World Youth and World Junior champion, also booked her place in the final by placing third in the second semi-final in 51.63 seconds. In the men's shot put, Ryan Whiting won his second straight world indoor title with a heave of 22.05 meters, edging David Storl of Germany by 26 centimetres.

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