media_artricles :: 2014

T&T relay runners grab two more medals

T&T bagged a further two medals, one which included a national record-breaking performance, to close its account at the inaugural IAAF World Relays, at the Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday, with a sixth-spot finish in the standings amongst all participating nations.

As a result, all three teams (women’s 4x100m, men’s 4x100m and men’s 4x400m) secured spots at next year’s IAAF World Championships in Athletics, which will take place in Beijing, China.

The men’s 4x100m relay team, anchored by Richard Thompson, captured a silver medal after clocking 38.04, behind Jamaica (37.77). Keston Bledman opened the race, before passing the baton to Marc Burns, who in turn handed it to Rondel Sorrillo.

Jamaica, which finished second in the overall tally, led the 4x100 race with Yohan Blake, both of whom were part of Jamaica’s world record-breaking team at the London Olympics, included. Nickel Ashmeade and Julian Forte, also contributed to the team’s gold. Great Britain (38.19) finished third.

Later in the evening, T&T again came up massive in the 4x400m relay, smashing the national record by nearly a second, to claim bronze.

Jarrin Solomon, anchored the team in a 2:58.43 finish, behind the USA (2:57.25) and a full-strength Bahamas (2:57.59). T&T’s previous record, captured at the London Olympics, was 2:59.40.

Solomon and Lalonde Gordon were part of both record breaking teams. The other runners helping T&T claim bronze on Sunday were Renny Quow and Machel Cedenio.

A day prior, T&T opened the medal haul with a third-placed finish in the women’s 4x100m relay. Kai Selvon anchored with Kamaria Durant, Michelle-Lee Ahye and Reyare Thomas completing the team. T&T clocked 42.66, behind the USA (41.88) and Jamaica (42.28).

Unfortunately, the entire trip was not as successful for some T&T athletes as it was for others. Due to an injury to Shawna Fermin during the 4x800m relay, T&T failed to finish. Jessica James led the race, and handed the baton to Fermin. Alena Brooks and anchor Romona Modeste did not run.

Fermin, however, was a part of the 4x400m relay team, which finished fourth in the ‘B’ final. Fermin, Brooks, Modeste and Magnolia Howell clocked 3:33.21.

The United States topped the overall standings with 60 points, while Jamaica and Kenya finished second and third, with 41 and 35 points, respectively. Great Britain (24 points) took fourth; Australia (21) fifth; T&T (19) sixth; France (18) seventh; Bahamas (15) eighth; Poland (14) ninth and Nigeria (13) tenth.

The event served as qualifiers for the 2015 World Championship in Athletics. Only Jamaica and Great Britain qualified for all four relays (men’s 4x100m, 4x400m, women’s 4x100m, 4x400m).

Roughly 575 athletes from 43 nations ran. T&T travelled with the ninth highest contingent of athletes- 23. Bahamas will host the second edition of the annual competition once again, next year.

Select results

Men’s 4x100m
1 Jamaica (Nesta Carter, Nickel Ashmeade, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake), 37.77
2 T&T (Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Rondel Sorrillo, Richard Thompson), 38.04
3 Great Britain (Richard Kelly, Harry Aikines-Aryeetay, James Ellington, Dwain Chambers), 38.19

Men’s 4x400m
1 USA (David Verburg, Tony McQuay, Christian Taylor, LaShawn Merritt), 2:57.25
2 Bahamas (LaToy Williams, Demetrius Pinder, Chris Brown, Michael Mathieu), 2:57.59
3 T&T (Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio, Jarrin Solomon), 2:58.43 - national record

Women’s 4x100m
1 USA (Tianna Bartoletta, Alexandria Anderson, Jeneba Tarmoh, LaKeisha Lawson), 41.88
2 Jamaica (Carrie Russell, Kerron Stewart, Schillonie Calvert, Samantha Henry-Robinson), 42.28
3 T&T (Kamaria Durant, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas, Kai Selvon), 42.66

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