media_artricles :: 2015

Fast Opener

Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler Deon Lendore produced a fast run in his 2015 individual opener, at the Aggie Invitational in Texas, USA, on Saturday. The Texas A&M University senior stopped the clock at 45.68 seconds for an impressive victory in the men’s 400 metres event.

Lendore, winner of the Bowerman Trophy for being the top male collegiate track and field athlete in the United States last year, is third on the 2015 world indoor performance list, behind Americans Najee Glass (45.34) and Vernon Norwood (45.56).

Janeil Bellille bagged bronze in the Aggie Invitational Olympic Development women’s 400m, the T&T athlete getting to the line in 53.25 seconds. Baylor University senior Dannielle Davis produced a 5.48 metres leap for sixth spot in the women’s long jump. Davis also competed in the 60m hurdles, finishing eighth in the final in 8.68 seconds. She had clocked 8.63 in the qualifying round.

Michelle-Lee Ahye was in fine form at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, in Boston. The T&T track star bolted to the line in 7.15 seconds to win the women’s 60m dash. Ahye was followed to the line by American Tianna Bartoletta (7.19) and Ghana’s Flings Owusu-Agyapong (7.26).

The 7.15 run was Ahye’s fastest clocking this year, and moved her from fifth to joint fourth—with American Jasmine Todd—on the 2015 world indoor performance list. Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahoure is the world-leader at 7.08 seconds.

Jarrin Solomon, meanwhile, is seventh on the 2015 men’s 600m global indoor list thanks to his one minute, 17.80 seconds run, at the University of New Mexico Collegiate Classic. The T&T athlete finished second, behind American Shaquille Walker (1:17.32).

Mikel Thomas clocked a personal best 7.72 seconds to snap up silver in the men’s 60m hurdles. The T&T hurdler was beaten to the line by American Aries Merritt (7.57), the 110m hurdles world record holder and reigning Olympic champion.

Jereem Richards produced an indoor best in finishing second in the men’s 200m, the T&T/South Plains College athlete getting home in 21.06 seconds. Abilene Christian University (ACU) student Osei Alleyne-Forte was 36th overall in 22.31.

Reyare Thomas clocked 7.43 seconds to finish fourth in the women’s 60m final. South Plains sprinter Aaliyah Telesford was seventh in 7.54. American Carmelita Jeter, the 2011 100m world champion, cruised to victory in 7.31. In the 200m, Thomas (23.95), Telesford (24.32) and South Plains student Domonique Williams (24.67) were 10th, 19th and 27th, respectively.

Western Texas College sprinter John Mark Constantine finished sixth in the men’s 60m final in 6.78 seconds, after clocking 6.75 in the preliminary round. And Abilene Christian’s Jessica James was second in section three and 10th overall in the women’s 400m in 55.83 seconds.

At the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup, in Pennsylvania, Steve Waithe secured men’s triple jump silver with a 15.75m effort. The Pennsylvania State University senior also did battle in the long jump, finishing 11th with a 6.81m leap.

In Indiana, Western Kentucky University student Peli Alzola was eighth overall in the Meyo Invitational women’s 60m semis in 7.53 seconds. The top six advanced to the final. And in the 200m event, Alzola finished 38th overall with a 25.16 clocking.

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