media_artricles :: 2017

Richards breaks Boldon's record

Jereem Richards established a new Trinidad and Tobago record at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships, in Texas, USA, late yesterday. The University of Alabama student blazed the track in 20.31 seconds to erase Ato Boldon's 20-year-old indoor men's 200 metres standard from the books.

The superb run from Richards earned him top spot in section two and silver overall. American Christian Coleman produced a 20.11 scorcher in section one to grab gold for University of Tennessee. Coleman also won the 60m title, getting to the line in 6.45.

Boldon had established the old T&T record of 20.35 seconds back in 1997. Richards' 20.31 run moved him past Boldon into the number two spot on the all-time Central American and Caribbean (CAC) list, behind CAC record-holder Obadele Thompson (20.26) of Barbados. Richards is now joint-12th on the all-time global list with American Coby Miller. Coleman jumps to third, behind world record holder Frankie Fredericks (19.92) of Namibia and American Wallace Spearmon (20.10).

In Friday's qualifying round, Richards topped heat two in 20.50 seconds.

T&T/Alabama athlete Ruebin Walters clocked 7.77 seconds to secure fifth spot in the men's 60m hurdles final. American Grant Holloway, a student at University of Florida, captured the title with a 7.58 run.

Walters had clocked 7.73 to finish fourth in the first of two qualifying heats, on Friday, progressing to the final as a "fastest loser".

In the men's distance medley relay, T&T's Asa Guevara ran the second leg for 11th-placed University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Guevara split 48.05 seconds for the 400-metre run, while UTEP completed the 1200mx400mx800mx1600m race in nine minutes, 56.03 seconds.

University of Mississippi clocked 9:31.32 for the win, forcing Virginia Tech (9:33.35) and Georgetown (9:33.42) to settle for second and third, respectively.

Richards was expected to be back on the track after press time, last night, representing Alabama in the men's 4x400m relay. Another T&T/Alabama athlete, Domonique Williams was listed for action in the women's 4x400m.

At the NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships, in Alabama, Adams State University sprinter Micah Ballantyne finished seventh in heat two and 13th overall in 6.84 seconds. The top eight advanced to the final.

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