media_artricles :: 2014

Bledman cruises to Southern Games gold

NATIONAL SPRINT champion Keston Bledman cruised to victory in the men’s invitational 100-metre dash yesterday, at the opening day of the two-day 50th Southern Games at Guaracara Park, Pointe a Pierre.

Bledman crossed the finish line in 10.55 seconds, with Jamaica’s Sheldon Mitchell taking silver with a 10.65 clocking, while Antoine Adams of St Kitts/Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago’s Moriba Morain each getting bronze with a time of 10.82.

Another TT runner, Ian Thomas, was fifth in 10.87 while Matthieu Pritchett of the United States was sixth in 11 seconds flat.

In the women’s 100m invitational, Michelle-Lee Ahye, who had a consistent indoor season in the US, was triumphant with a time of 11.48, ahead of fellow TT sprinters Kamaria Durant (11.76), Kayelle Clarke (11.95) and Lisa Wickham (12.09).

Completing the field were Kerneka Beckles of Grenada (12.36), Kineke Alexander of St Kitts/Nevis (12.37) and Romona Modeste (12.43).

World 400m hurdles king Jehue Gordon participated in the men’s 400m invitational, but he was fifth out of the six finishers, on the grass surface, in 49.50.

American Atrte Collins prevailed in 48.52, followed by Oral Thompson of Jamaica (48.86), Tyler Francis (49.14) and Sharif Webb of the US (49.42). Shaquan Williams of Canada was sixth in 51.11.

Kadisha Francois of UTT Fast Track copped gold in the women’s one-lap in 58.26, with Ayoka Cummings of Neon Trackers (58.98) and Shirnell Ettienne of UTT Fast Track (59.89) trailing.

Silas Kisorio of Kenya got the better of Cleveland Forde of Guyana to claim gold in the men’s 1,500m.

Kisorio completed the race in four minutes 0.05 seconds, with Forde 0.62 seconds behind, while another Guyanese, Cleveland Thomas, was third in 4:09.49.

In the women’s 1,500m, Dawnell Collymore was victorious in 4:57.11, followed by Elia Nero of Toco Titans (5:15.27) and Shirley Stapleton of Cougars (5:20.70).

Andre Andrews led a one-two for the Warriors club, in the men’s javelin. Andrews had a best attempt of 53.18m to claim gold, ahead of Precious George, who threw 51.17m, and Anderson Thompson of UWI, who threw 38.91m.

Portious Warren of Toco TAFAC was the winner of the women’s shot put, with her first throw of 13.16m. Gwendolyn Smith of Petrotrin Palo Seco followed with 12.30m and Darlene Lewis of UWI was third with 11.54m.

Kevin Roberts, who was unattached, took gold in the men’s high jump after clearing the bar at 1.96m. David Thomas of Jaguars got silver with 1.80m while Rodney Liverpool of the Defence Force got bronze with 1.75m.

The Games are set to conclude today.

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