media_artricles :: 2014

Lucas fourth in women’s 100m hurdles final at CAC

Sprinter Josanne Lucas was another heart-break story for T&T at the Heriberto Jara Atheltic Stadium after she placed fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles final when the 22nd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games continued in Veracruz, Mexico, yesterday.

Following on from Quincy Wilson (Discus Throw), Tonya Nero (10,000m) and Akeem Stewart (Shot Put), fourth placed finishes in their respective finals at the same venue earlier in the week, Lucas was hopeful of securing this country’s first track and field medal, and ninth overall at the Games.

But, it was not to be as she crossed the line in 13.62 seconds behind Colombian duo, Lina Marcela Florez and Briggite Maria Merlano who both clocked 13.19 for a one-two photo finish with Barbadian Kierre Beckles taking bronze in 13.47, thus failing to add to T&T’s eight medals one gold, one silver and six bronze to date.

The other finishers in the final were Venezuelan Genesis Romero (13.63), Mexico’s Gabriela Belen Santos (13.68), Bahamian Petra Mc Donald (14.33) and Cuban, Rujaine Coto, who after her spill crossed in 21.29.

On Tuesday, the 30-year-old Lucas was third in the first of two semifinals heats in 13.79 seconds behind Florez (13.31) and Romero (13.62) while Merlano (13.14), Beckles (13.51), Coto (13.60), Santos (13.81) and Mc Donald (13.98) qualified from heat two.

Today from 3.50pm (TT time), 26-year-old Kyle Greaux will look the break the medal drought for the red, white and black when he competes in the men’s 200m final after he was third in the first of two semifinals in 20.83 to trail Cuban Reynier Mena (20.50) and Mexico’s Jose Carlos Herrera (20.52) while Barbadian Levi Asher Cadogan was fourth in 21.16 and qualified as well.

T&T’s other entrant Emmanuel Callender completed a disastrous double after he was disqualified from heat two, to follow up failing to reach the men’s 100m final.

The four qualifiers from heat two were Cuban, Roberto Skyers in 20.66 while Honduran Rolando Palacios (20.71), Venezuelan Antonio Ramirez (20.92) and Mexican Manuel Ruiz (21.26) completed the top four.

Mexico turn back volleyball men

At the Arena Cordoba, Mexico had no problem to win their first match in men’s volleyball, beating T&T 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 in their Pool A opener on Tuesday night.

Carlos Guerra scored nine points and Daniel Vargas eight for Mexico, while Simon Blake had ten, inclusive of five aces, and captain Nolan Tash nine in the loss for T&T, the reigning Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association champions.

Mexico surrendered 23 points to their opponents on errors, while T&T gave up 28.

Speaking after the loss, T&T coach Gideon Dickson said, “The Mexican team was more determinated. We tried to play hard with our team. We haven’t played since early august, but we expect to improve as the tournament goes,” he exposed.

Tash added, “”My team had some errors, but we look forward to improve during the competition.”

In the other Pool A match, Dominican Republic defeated Colombia 25-18, 25-19, 27-25 while Cuba beat Bahamas 25-20, 25-16, 25-15 and Venezuela outlasted Puerto Rico 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 29-27 in the two Pool B contest. Last night, T&T men came up Colombia and will end round-robin play today versus Dominican Republic from 4pm today ahead of the playoffs on Saturday.

Beach volleyball men beaten in three sets

Toco-born duo, Fabien Whitfield and Daneil Williams was beaten in three sets, 16-21, 21-16, 12-15 by David Vargas and Carlos Escobar of El Salvador in their men’s Pool A beach volleyball opener at Reino Magico ahead of their second match last night against Jamaicans Ryck Webb-Mc Kenzie and Christopher Walters who went under to Puerto Rico’s Roberto Rodriguez and Erick Haddock 9-21, 6-21.

Today, the T&T boys will meet the Puerto Ricans in their final round-robin at the end of which the top two from the pool will advance to the quarterfinals.

And in the women’s tournament,T&T’s Nancy Joseph and Ayanna Dyette were due to meet Honduransm Marissa Brady and Christianne Etches last night followed by Barbadians, Anicia Wood and Shari Matthews while they meet tournament favourites and Mexico’s Bibiana Candelas and Martha Revuelta today.

Lewis has best Sailing day

T&T Olympian sailor Andrew Lewis had his best day at Gaviotas Beach when he placed fifth in race six, and then went one better in fourth in the men’s Opening Series Race six and seven.

The back-to-back top six performances improved Lewis to a net points total of 34 and fifth overall, 17 behind current bronze medal holder Enrique Arathoon of El Salvador with three races left, including two today.

However, Kelly-Ann Arrindell’s ambitions for a medal are all over as she sits in ninth spot in the women’s laser radial with 49 points following her eight and 14th place finishes respectively yesterday and races six and seven and three more left.

Badminton:

At the Omega Complex, Nekeisha Blake defeated Daigenis Saturria of Dominican Republic, 21-14, 21-18, in the women’s round-of-32 before she was ousted at the last-16 by Cuban, Adriana Artiz 12-21, 12-21 while Jada Renales was stopped by Genesis Valentin 9-21, 6-21 in the round-of-16.

Kerwyn Pantin was stopped at the first hurdle, 15-21, 18-21, against Dominican Republic’s William Cabrera in the round-of-32 and Will Lee was halted by Barbadian Andre Padmore , 17-21, 12-21 in the last-16.

Last night, in round-of-16 doubles play, Renales and Kerian Quan Chee met Guatemala’s Nikte Sotomayor and Beatriz Ramos in the women’s division while Pantin and Alistair Espinoza battled Dominican Republic’s Alberto Rapozo and Nelsol Javier at the same hurdle.

And today in Mixed Doubles, Renales pairs with Lee for a round-of-16 encounter while Quan Chee teams up with Alistair Espinoza.

Water Polo:

At the Leyes de Reforma Aquatic Centre, T&T water polo men will be come up against host Mexico in their penultimate match before facing Guatemala tomorrow.

T&T entered last night’s match with Cuba with a 0-3 mark after losing previously to

Puerto Rico (9-16), Colombia (4-16) and Venezuela (5-11).

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