media_artricles :: 2013

Walcott opens at Twilight Games

Keshorn Walcott opens his 2013 campaign at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, today. The reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion is the headline act at the inaugural TnT Elite Twilight Games.

Walcott will be competing for the first time since August 11, last year, the day he upset the best javelin throwers in the world to become the first-ever black male Olympic throwing champion. Just 19 at the time, the Toco field athlete landed the spear 84.58 metres, leaving in his wake a top class field of throwers, including Norway’s two-time Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen.

Walcott told the Express he wants to follow in Thorkildsen’s footsteps.

“I’ll like to at least get up to his level. But I’ll like to achieve something that the world record holder, Jan Zelezny achieved. He won three Olympic gold medals. He also won the World Championship. He also got the world record (98.48m). So that’s something to look forward to in the future.”

Walcott’s preparations for his 2013 campaign included a training stint in Cuba. He said the time spent in Cuba was beneficial.

“Training has been going really good.”

At the 2013 World Championships, in Moscow, Russia, Walcott will not have the benefit of flying under the radar. As Olympic champion, the 20-year-old will go into the global meet with a target on his back.

“There’s a bit (of pressure), knowing that there are expectations. But I try not to study it. I’m just going to go out there, train hard, and continue doing what I’m doing.

“All preparations,” he continued, “are towards the World Championships.”

The Twilight Games will be the first stop for Walcott on the Road to Moscow.

“I’m taking it as a stepping stone…something to build on.”

Walcott squares off against Cuban Yandris Vazquez, at the Crawford Stadium today.

There will be T&T/Cuba duels in two other throwing events.

Quincy Wilson tackles Cuban Jorge Fernandez in the men’s discus. And in the women’s shot put, T&T’s best-ever female thrower, Cleopatra Borel squares off against Yaniuvis Lopez.

Both 400m events will have an international flavour.

In the men’s race, Americans Marcus Boyd and Joshua Scott take on T&T juniors Machel Cedenio and Jereem Richards. And in the women’s 400, Jamaican Stacey-Anne Smith will face the starter.

T&T’s Mikel Thomas tackles Americans Jarrett Eaton and Christopher Thomas in the men’s 110m hurdles.

The women’s 100m dash will feature T&T’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, Americans Muna Lee, Shataya Hendricks and Gabby Mayo, and Ghana’s Flings Owusu-Agyapong.

While no foreigners are listed for action in the men’s 100m dash, the expected participation of T&T’s former world junior champion Darrel Brown makes it one of the most anticipated events on the Twilight Games programme. Brown will do battle with Moriba Morain.

Young T&T throwers, Akeem Stewart and Hezekiel Romeo go head-to-head in the men’s shot put. Kyron Blaise will be on show in the men’s long jump. And there will also be all-T&T fields in the men’s and women’s 800m races.

The Twilight Games programme starts at 4.30 p.m. In addition to the 12 track and field events, there will be performances by Kees Dieffenthaller, Blaxx, Olatunji and Cassi.

Admission to the covered stands at the Crawford Stadium is $25 for adults, and free for children under 12, secondary school students in uniform, and tertiary level students with student IDs. There is no charge for admission to the uncovered stands.

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