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Daniel congratulates TT CARIFTA athletes

Former TT Olympian, 200m and 400m athlete Alvin Daniel said the 2013 TT Carifta team did their country proud at the championships which were held in Bahamas from March 29-April 1st

.The twin island athletes finished third behind Jamaica (68) and Bahamas (31) on the medal table with 20 including nine gold, one silver and ten bronze.

Daniel who was part of TT’s 4x400 relay team which finished seventh in Barcelona, Spain in 1992 has called on the business community of Point Fortin to support 2012 Olympian Machel Cedenio and Jereem Richards. “These athletes have done us proud not just TT, but Point Fortin since they are from there. I would like to see the business community come out and support our athletes a bit more and help to make it a bit easier for them in any way they can.

Plenty of the wealth coming from this area and it is sad when our athletes have to change clubs due to the benefits they receive in other areas,” said the former Olympian.

The Point Fortin resident said the business should take full use of the opportunity and support the athletes.

“Since my time which was some 20 years ago, we now see some talent coming out of this area and we need the support of the business to help these athletes reach their full potential.

They should not wait until these athletes make it big time then to jump on the band wagon, now is the right time to do so. While we are suffering as it relates to our sporting facilities we are hoping that this would be rectified sometime soon,” said Daniel.

Cedenio a quarter-miler like Daniel, set a new personal best at the 42nd edition of the games and in the process claimed gold in the U-20 race.

One week after his return home the youngest TT athlete at the 2012 London Games took the top podium spot in the Second Annual NAAA President Classic at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday.

The 17-year-old clocked 46.99 seconds ahead of Kern Alexis (Neon Trackers) and Asa Guevara (Abiline).

Mark London was another impressive athlete for the twin island as he claimed two gold. The Bishops’ High School student retained his 800m title won the previous year before claiming the 1,500m title.

Daniel said while TT is doing well at the Carifta level more is needed to be done to keep this as well as help the athletes move to the next level as they strive to make their country proud.

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