media_artricles :: 2013

Double Trouble

London repeats middle distance feat

Mark London completed a Carifta Games double for the second time when he struck gold in the boys’ under-20 800 metres, at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, here in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday.

Back in 2010 in the Cayman Islands, the Trinidad and Tobago athlete captured an under-17 double. He repeated the feat in Nassau, clocking one minute, 51.34 seconds to add boys’ under-20 800 gold to the 1500m title he had secured on Saturday.

Bahamian Andre Colebrooke finished second in 1:51.43, while third spot went to St Lucia’s Marbeq Edgar (1:51.74).

About 250 metres from home, London surged to the front, the defending champion going on to win the race, beating Bahamian Andre Colebrooke (1:51.43) into second. Third spot went to St Lucia’s Marbeq Edgar (1:51.74).

“I’m kind of speechless,” said London, following his impressive double. “I went out in the first lap, wasn’t feeling myself at all, I wasn’t feeling too comfortable. But in the last lap…I just gave it my all.

“Coming off the 150,” he continued, “I glimpsed back again and then I realised I had an okay gap on the second place, so my plan was just to hold that and come through to the finish line, first place.

“My whole country expected me to come back and win again, so that was my main goal. I did that so I’m good. It’s my dream, it’s everything I ever wanted since I started training, getting double gold. This is the second time I’m getting double gold at the Carifta Games. I’m just really proud of myself.”

Hezekiel Romeo earned gold for T&T in the boys’ under-20 shot put, throwing a personal best 18.66 metres in the sixth and final round to grab the title from the grasp of Jamaican Chadrick Da Costa. Da Costa had to settle for silver with an 18.42m effort. Eldred Henry (18.01m), of the British Virgin Islands, was third.

Another T&T thrower, Kenejah Williams threw the iron ball 16.15m to finish sixth.

Andwuelle Wright made a successful defence of his boys’ under-17 long jump title. And there was bronze too for T&T in the event, Che Richards copping third spot. Wright jumped 7.29m, and Richards a wind-assisted 7.01m.

Akeem Marshall bagged gold for T&T in the boys’ under-20 5,000m in 16:49.96. Suriname’s Clifton Betje (16:55.00) earned silver and Bermuda’s Juma Mouchette (16:59.09), bronze.

Ruebin Walters captured his second bronze medal at Carifta 2013 when he finished third in the boys’ under-20 110m hurdles in 13.66 seconds. Guadeloupe’s Belocian Wilhem won in 13.49, from Jamaican Omar McLeod (13.57).

Another T&T athlete, Christian Hood Boyce was seventh in 14.67.

Jeminise Parris added girls’ under-17 100m hurdles bronze to her 300m hurdles gold.

Running into a strong 3.3 metres per second headwind, Parris clocked 14.64 seconds to secure third spot, behind Jamaicans Rushelle Burton (13.96) and Janeek Brown (14.30). T&T’s Kermisha Serapio (15.55) was fifth.

Parris was thrilled, following her 300m hurdles triumph on Sunday.

“Can’t explain my emotions right now, but I know I trained hard and I deserve this gold medal. I want to thank God. I feel very happy I’ve accomplished something…I’m so excited. This gold medal means a lot to me because I went through so much to reach this far. I’m proud of myself.”

Jereem Richards clocked a wind-aided 20.69 seconds to capture bronze in the boys’ under-20 200m. Bahamian Teray Smith won in 20.58, while the runner-up spot went to Jamaican Jevaughn Minzie (20.64).

Jonathan Farinha was fifth in 21.03.

And Akeel Edwards produced a 14.99m effort in the boys’ under-20 triple jump to secure another bronze for T&T.

Domonique Williams finished fourth in the girls’ under-20 800m in 2:10.36.

Akidah Briggs was fourth in the girls’ under-17 javelin with a 37.03m throw. The winner, Dominica’s Shanee Angol produced a 43.89m effort--a new Games record.

Cherisse Murray threw 34.14m to finish fifth in the girls’ under-20 javelin. In the girls’ under-20 200m final, Kayelle Clarke copped sixth spot in 23.76 seconds. And Miguel Hackett was seventh in the boys’ under-17 800m in 2:06.66.

Late on Sunday, T&T seized silver in the boys’ under-20 4x100m relay. Breon Mullings, Ayodele Taffe, Richards and anchorman John Mark Constantine got the baton round the track in 40.36 seconds. Jamaica won in 39.92, while third spot went to Turks & Caicos Islands in 44.11.

T&T sprinters Aaliyah Telesford, Lisa Wickham, Peli Alzola and Kayelle Clarke combined for girls’ under-20 sprint relay bronze in 45.71 seconds. Bahamas clocked 44.77 to top the field, while second spot went to Barbados (45.67).

Hakeem Alexander claimed bronze for T&T in the boys’ under-17 3,000m event in 9:49.59. Jamaican Jauavney James won in 9:26.45, from Guadeloupe’s Alvin Nardin (9:27.32).

And T&T field athlete Shaunna Downey threw 41.95m to earn bronze in the girls’ under-20 discus. Jamaica swept the top two spots, Gleneve Grange winning with a 47.95m effort and Rochelle Frazer (42.33m) finishing second. Another T&T thrower, Latoya Gilding (36.30m) was seventh.

Alisha St Louis also competed on Sunday, the T&T athlete finishing 10th in the girls’ under-17 long jump with a wind-assisted 5.28m leap.

Late yesterday, Asa Guevara, Richards, Theon Lewis and 400m champion Machel Cedenio secured Carifta Games silver for T&T in the boys’ under-20 4x400m relay, the final event at Carifta 2013. The T&T quartet clocked 3:06.23. Jamaica won in a Games record time of 3:05.68, while bronze went to Bahamas in 3:07.44.

The Jamaicans were actually disqualified for a zone violation on the final exchange, and T&T were promoted to first. But the Jamaicans protested their disqualification and won, forcing T&T to return to the silver position.

T&T team members and supporters were celebrating gold in the 4x4 and second spot on the medal table. However, the reinstatement of the Jamaica 4x4 team changed the script.

T&T - eight gold medals, two silver and 10 bronze - moved down one spot to third, behind champions Jamaica (29 gold medals, 25 silver, 15 bronze) and runners-up Bahamas (eight gold medals, 11 silver, 12 bronze).

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