media_artricles :: 2012

T&T sprinter wins Falcon Games 100

Callender on track

Emmanuel Callender dominated his rivals in the Falcon Games men's 100 metres final, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, late on Sunday.

Halfway through the race, Callender was already in control, the Olympic Games sprint relay silver medallist separating himself from the field and motoring to the line in 10.22 seconds. Moriba Morain seized silver in 10.35, while bronze was bagged by teenager Jonathan Holder, in 10.54.

"I'm quite satisfied," Callender told the Express, after the race, "because I haven't been doing any speed work. It's great for me. My coach brought me in to do a 100 to see what it's like and see where I'm at. I feel pretty strong. My speed doesn't feel there, but I feel okay."

In the preliminary round, Callender clocked 10.34 to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier.

The Falcon Games 100 was Callender's season opener at that distance. The 27-year-old sprinter recently returned home, following a training stint at the Swept Track Club, in Jamaica.

"This is my first 100. I ran 400s, relays, medleys, 4x2s, and stuff like that. Basically, a lot of long stuff."

Callender is eyeing precious metal at the 2012 Olympics, in London, England.

"My goal so far is just trying to stay healthy, taking it one step at a time, and building my strength in order to try to get a medal at the Olympic Games."

To be a serious contender for an Olympic medal, Callender would need to improve significantly on his 10.05 seconds personal best.

"I have some fast times in mind, but I don't want to say yet because I want to work on some other stuff, and then I'll come out and say."

Callender earned 100m bronze at the Pan American Games, in Guadalajara, Mexico, last October. Before the Pan Am meet, he fine-tuned his preparations here in Trinidad, under the guidance of his Memphis Pioneers coach, Dr Ian Hypolite. Callender will do the same in the build-up to London 2012.

"Before Pan Am Games I did some of my training here. Me and Doc collaborated and I did some stuff, and it worked out. Before Commonwealth (in 2010), I did the same thing, so I believe I can do it at home."

Lisa Wickham captured the Falcon Games women's 100m title, late on Sunday. The Concorde sprinter stopped the clock at 11.78 seconds, to finish ahead of Nicole Davis (11.84) and Chelsea Charles (11.87).

Machel Cedenio overhauled Brandon Benjamin on the home straight to claim top spot in the boys' under-20 400m. Cedenio got home in 47.73 seconds, while Benjamin clocked 48.37 to pick up silver. Bronze went to Darvin Sandy in 49 seconds flat.

Stann Waithe produced a 47.97 seconds run to grab gold in the men's 400m, beating Kevin Haynes (48.67) and Joel Meharris (48.76) into second and third, respectively.

St Vincent and the Grenadines quarter-miler, Kineke Alexander topped the women's 400m field in 54.53 seconds. Afiya Walker (54.89) picked up silver, and Romona Modeste (55.35) bronze.

Durly Lucas 10K winner, Cleveland Forde was also successful at the Crawford Stadium, the Guyanese runner winning the men's 5,000m in 14 minutes, 48.15 seconds.

Keshorn Walcott and Jehue Gordon were among the day two standouts as well.

Walcott won the men's javelin with a 77.53 metres throw—a new Central American and Caribbean (CAC) junior (under-20) record. And Gordon clocked 13.82 seconds to win the men's 110m hurdles, beating Puerto Rico's Eric Alejandro (14.15) into second spot.

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