media_artricles :: 2018

Zenith’s Horsford, Kennedy and Franklyn bag gold

Reigning Carifta Games javelin champion Tyriq Horsford continues to maintain his progress to become one of the leading javelin throwers in the world after he starred on Saturday at the Field Events, Hurdles and Masters Championships, where he won gold in the men's event at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

That drive saw the Zenith athlete hurl the spear 69.20 metres, his lone recorded mark as he fouled his other throws, to take the top spot on the podium at a meet hosted by the National Association of Athletics Administration of T&T (NAAATT).

The four-time Carifta champion finished ahead of Selvon Rochford of Five Rivers Secondary, who was second with 58.16m and third was Horsford's Zenith clubmate Johnathon Hazelwood with 50.58m.

Zenith's Talena Murray, another reigning Carifta javelin champion, was also solid in the women's version of the event to win gold with her best throw which measured 45.56m. Her Zenith teammate Kymoi Noray, the Carifta bronze medallist, was a far-off second with 39.71m, and Antonia Sealy (Unattached) got the bronze with 32.30m.

Another Zenith athlete Tehealia Kennedy was the winner of the Girls U-17 javelin with a throw of 32.51m. Shade Guy of Toco Tafac copped the silver with 21.68m and Allesha Lindsay (Unattached) bagged the bronze with 17.55m. Coincidentally their Zenith coach Wade Franklyn was also among the winners in a track and field event that not only focussed on the up and coming athletes but also for athletes 35 years and over, who are considered Masters.

Franklyn topped the men's shot put Masters with a 12.14m-heave. T&T Masters club duo Kenrick Russell (9.43m) and James Bristol (9.40m) filled the second and third spots, respectively.

Gwendolyn Smith of Palo Seco was a force to be reckoned with picking up three gold medals in the Masters' category women's javelin, shot put and discus.

In the javelin throw, she tossed the spear 33.30m to place ahead of T&T Masters pair Joan Hospedales (21.63) and Suzan Garcia (16.31m). In the shot put contest, Smith (12.45m) again beat Garcia (8.05m) and Hospedales (8.02m), whose positions were switched. And in the Discus Throw, her furthest throw measured 23.78m to beat Joyce Thomas of Burnley (17.08m).

Shaunna Downey of the University of the West Indies (UWI) track and field club and Tauren George of Point Fortin New Jets (PFNJ) also nabbed double gold medals.

Downey topped the women's throws events, winning the shot put with a 11.80m-effort ahead of Striders' Shantel Licorish (10.65m) and Elizabeth Galera (Burnley) with 9.79m and the discus, reaching 37.79m in her final toss, beating Kieanne Blackman of Memphis Pioneers (36.33m) into second and Burnley's Elizabeth Galera (29.38m) into third.

George was dominant in the men's 110m and 400m hurdles events. George clocked 15.17 seconds to win the former ahead of Kerlon Ashby (Kaizen Panthers) in 15.30 and then the other in 54.83. Kobe John (Memphis) copped silver in 57.14 and Jair Alexander (Kaizen) bagged bronze in 1:10.66.

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