media_artricles :: 2014

Ahye, James dominate at Relay Carnival

Michelle-Lee Ahye crushed her rivals in the Trinidad and Tobago Relay Carnival women’s invitational 100 metres dash, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, late yesterday.

The Trinidad and Tobago sprinter opened her 2014 outdoor campaign with the easiest of victories, stopping the clock at 11.13 seconds.

Early in the race, it was clear there would only be one challenger for the century title. Ahye turned her early lead into a huge gap, second-placed Kamaria Durant getting home in 11.59, ahead of American Nicole Davis (11.68).

Jamaal James was unchallenged for the men’s 1500m title.

The T&T runner returned a time of three minutes, 50.71 seconds, an impressive season-opener in an event he uses as training for his pet event—the 800m.

Denny Gualbance stayed with James for two-thirds of the race, helping to pace his Rebirth teammate. But with 500 metres to go Gualbance dropped out, leaving James to battle the clock.

When James crossed the line, his closest challenger was nowhere in sight. More than 15 seconds later, George Smith crossed the finish line in 4:06.16 to secure silver, just ahead of his fellow-Defence Force athlete, Cliffton Sylvester (4:06.20).

Another of the highpoints at the two-day Relay Carnival came during yesterday’s intermission. Lennox Yearwood, Kent Bernard, Edwin Roberts and Wendell Mottley were honoured for their world record run in the men’s 4x440 yards relay at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

The T&T quartet clocked 3:02.8 for a commanding victory and a new world record.

Anchorman Mottley, who also struck gold in the individual 440 yards event in Kingston, attended Queen’s Royal College as a teenager. The athletics tradition continues at QRC, and the Royalians were among the standout performers at the Relay Carnival.

St Anthony’s High School, of New York, USA, Bishop’s High School (Tobago), El Dorado West Secondary, Miracle Ministries Secondary, Toco Secondary, Palo Seco Secondary, and a team from Canada were also impressive in the relays for high school students.

Port of Spain and Environs enjoyed many successes in the primary school events.

And Simplex, University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Zenith and Grenada were among the winning teams in the senior relays.

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