media_artricles :: 2013

Richards eyeing 400 pb at Twilight Games

Jereem Richards wants to clock a new personal best in the men’s 400 metres event, at tomorrow’s TnT Elite Twilight Games, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

The 19-year-old is among six Trinidad and Tobago athletes listed for action in the one-lap race. The field also includes two Americans—Joshua Scott and Marcus Boyd.

While reigning Carifta Games boys’ under-20 400m champion Machel Cedenio is expected to lead the T&T challenge, Richards could also be a factor in tomorrow’s race.

On March 24, Richards topped the Falcon Games men’s 400m field in a personal best 46.51 seconds. Eight days later, he clocked a wind-assisted 20.69 to secure boys’ under-20 200m bronze at the Carifta Games, in Bahamas.

Richards told the Express he has not yet decided which of the two events he will focus on during his career.

“Right about now I’m not really sure. I run both the 400 and 200, and they kind of balance, so whichever one I’m better at, that’s the one I’ll keep as the main event.”

Richards has a 200m personal best (pb) of 20.82 seconds. But based on the 46.51 400 clocking he produced in March, the 200/400 runner expects a big improvement in the half-lap event this season.

“A pb in the 400 means I have strength to come home faster and stronger in a 200 metres, so my 200 should be faster. I’m looking for…maybe 20.3.”

In addition to 200m bronze at Carifta 2013, Richards earned silver in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events.

“I really wanted to do better in the 200 metres, but I’m still good. I left with three medals, so I’m satisfied.”

The 2012 World Indoor Championship 4x400m bronze medallist said he wants to emulate T&T’s 1997 200m world champion Ato Boldon.

“I would like to do that, and better.”

Richards is hoping to make his World Outdoor Championship debut at the 2013 edition of the meet, in Moscow, Russia.

“I’ll like to run the 4x400 metres and the 200 metres in Moscow.”

His most immediate goal, though, is producing his best-ever 400m run at the inaugural Twilight Games.

“I’m hoping for a pb. I’m looking to go out real hard and get a low time.”

The Twilight Games women’s 100m dash will also have an international flavour, featuring Americans Muna Lee and Gabby Mayo, and Ghana’s Flings Owusu-Agyapong.

Mayo is currently based in T&T. In March, she competed at the Falcon Games, finishing second in the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.96 seconds, and sixth in the 100m flat event in 12.06.

Mayo’s 100m pb is 11.13, while her best-ever clocking in the 100m hurdles is 12.81.

“I started (preparations) in December,” Mayo told the Express, “which is late for most athletes, but so far they have been going good. So far, so good…just trying to get through this conditioning part and stay healthy.

“That’s the main reason why I started so late, because of injuries, so number one is staying healthy. If I get through this year healthy, by 2016 I should be good.”

While Mayo’s main goal is representing United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the 24-year-old is also eyeing the 2013 World Championships.

“I hope to make the team, but if I don’t I won’t be upset, because I know I’ve come from a long way. It’s a goal, but if I don’t I’ll still be happy, as long as I stay healthy.”

Mayo is keen to produce new pbs this season.

“I know I can run way faster if I have the right training, the right coaching, so hopefully it will come down...a lot. Trying to go at least 10.8 and 12.4. Those are my goals right now, but if I go faster that would be even better.”

Mayo has not set herself a time target, however, for the Twilight Games.

“I just want to run a good race, and build from there.”

Michelle-Lee Ayhe will carry T&T’s hopes in tomorrow’s women’s 100m dash. Following her 11.07 seconds golden run at last month’s President’s Classic, here in T&T, Ahye would fancy her chances of topping the Twilight Games field.

Admission to the Crawford Stadium covered stands tomorrow is $25 for adults and free for children under 12. Admission to the uncovered stands is free.

Starting time for the inaugural TnT Elite Twilight Games is 4.30 p.m. The main event will be the men’s javelin, featuring Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott in his 2013 opener.

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