media_artricles :: 2018

Stewart attains shot put, discus benchmarks

Paralymic gold medallist Akeem Stewart was one of five local athletes meeting the standard in their respective events at the Pre-Commonwealth Meet hosted by the National Association of Athletics Administrations of T&T (NAAATT) on the weekend at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The field specialist achieved the feat in two events, the men's shot put on Saturday, returning the following day to dominate the discus throw to book his spot on Team TTO for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia from April 4-15.

The others making the required standards were Abilene Wildcats sprinters Kyle Greaux in the men's 200 metres and Reyare Thomas in the women's 100 metres, javelin thrower Shakiel Waithe (unattached) and jumper Andwuelle Wright (Unattached).

Stewart of Falcons surpassed the qualifying mark of 18.50m in the shot put in his second try, with a throw of 18.68m after opening with a 17.89m attempt. The other competitor in the event, Hezekiel Romeo (Unattached), best try reached 18.20.

In the discus event on Sunday, Stewart's target was 58.00m and he went past it in his first attempt which measured 58.20m. Quincy Wilson was the other athlete competing in the event but fell short of the mark with his best being, 57.18m.

Still on the field that day, Waithe got over the 74.00m-standard in the men's javelin on his third toss of 79.90m. His lone competitor Guyanese Leslain Baird also made the qualifying standard with a 74.76m-throw.

Later that evening, Kyle Greaux raced past the qualifying standard in the men's 200m of 20.50 seconds, crossing in a time of 20.40. He beat Jalen Purcell of Simplex (21.08) and Abilene's Nathan Farinha (21.33) to the line, respectively.

In the women's version of the race, no runner met the standard of 23.20. Thomas, clocked 23.50 to finish ahead of Kamaria Durant (Simplex) in 24.02 and national junior sprint champion Khalifa St Fort (Unattached) in 24.50.

Thomas was however the day before, faster than the qualifying time of 11.34 in the women's 100m, winning the dash in 11.21. Second was Concorde's Jenea Spinks in 11.59 and third Durant in 11.60.

The men's race had no runner making the required standard of 10.20 seconds with the winner Abilene's Jonathan Farinha finishing just 0.01-second off the time in 10.21. Reigning national men's 100m champion Emmanuel Callender (Memphis Pioneers) was second in 10.22 and third was Farinha's twin brother Nathan in 10.30.

Also on Saturday, Wright booked his spot in the men's long jump event leaping 8.07m to outdo the required distance of 7.70m.

QUALIFIERS

Men's Shot Put (Standard - 18.50m)
Akeem Stewart (Falcons) - 18.68m

Men's Discus (Standard - 58.00m)
Akeem Stewart (Falcons) - 58.20m

Men's Long Jump (Standard - 7.70m)
Andwuelle Wright (Unattached) - 8.07m (3.5/Wind)

Men's Javelin Throw (Standard - 74.00m)
Shakiel Waithe (Unattached) - 79.90m

Men's 200m (Standard - 20.50 secs)
Kyle Greaux (Abilene) - 20.40 (3.9/Wind)

Women's 100m (Standard - 11.34 secs)
Reyare Thomas (Abilene) - 11.21 (3.8/Wind)

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