media_artricles :: 2015

Solomon cops another Don Kirby 400m title

Jarrin Solomon, Ayodele Taffe and Ohdel James recorded victories in the United States over the weekend.

Solomon, the reigning Olympic and World Relays bronze medallist, won the men’s indoor 400m race at the Don Kirby Open in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday. Solomon was the fastest in the field in 47.06 seconds to win heat one. Americans Cole Lambourne (47.14) and Pete Lauderdale (47.24) were second and third. The victory was the second for Solomon following his triumph in 2013. Solomon also won the Don Kirby Outdoor crowns in 2012 and 2013. Taffe took the men’s 200m at the Battle of the Regions Meet in Bakersfield, California on Friday. The 2013 World Championships sprint relay finalist stopped the clock in 21.52 ahead of Sequoias school-mate and compatriot Cabrara Holand who clocked 21.57. Yet another T&T athlete and school-mate Ohdel James secured the mens 400m honors in 48.89. James later returned to help his school to gold in the 4x400m in 3:17.66 ahead of another Sequious team which clocked 3:18.25. Ashron Sobers and Theon Lewis were members of the second place team. All T&T athletes are first year students.

Last year’s World Junior 110m hurdles finalist Reubin Walters missed on a victory in the men’s 60m hurdles finals at the Don Kirby Open. The Central Arizona freshman finished second in 7.88 behind American Lorenzo Johnson (Western Texas) 7.79 and ahead of another US athlete Harold Lathan 111 (WAS) 7.92. Walters’ time was an improvement on his 7.95 clocking in the prelims earlier in the day, the third quickest. The 2012 CAC Junior champion also helped Central Arizona to eighth in the men’s 4x400m in a time of three minutes 14.88 seconds (3:14.88). John Mark Constantine (Western Texas) took third spot in the men’s 60m finals in 6.74.

In the prelims the 2014 World Junior sprint relay finalist was 0.02 seconds slower, clocking 6.76 to finish fourth fastest.

Walters’ school-mate Hezekiel Romeo was ninth in the men’s shot put with a 17.33m effort. Romeo, the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games bronze medallist, was hoping to improve on his second place finish at the Pima Aztec Indoor in Arizona on Feb 7 when he got the iron ball out to 17.61m.

Romeo was also fifth at the weight throw in Arizona with a mark of 13.36m. Reigning Carifta girls under 20 200m gold medallist Kayelle Clarke (New Mexico Junior College) was 11th in the women’s 60m in 7.75.

Clarke won heat ten of the women’s 200m in 24.45 but her time left her 21st overall. Marissa Gayle (Western Texas) finished 10th overall in the 400m (56.85) and was part of her school’s 4x400m team which finished fourth (3:41.49).

Micah Ballantyne (Adam State) was second in the men’s 200m at the ASU NCAA Qualifier in Alamosa Colorado on Friday (13 Feb). The World Junior sprint relay finalist got the line in 22.46. Kadisha Francois (Missouri State) was 20th in the 200m at the Fred Wilt Invitational in Illionois in 25.58.

RESULTS

Don Kirby Open & Elite, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Feb 13-14

Men

60m finals-1st Justyn Warner (CAN) 6.59, 2nd Anaso Jobodwana (RSA) 6.60, 3rd John Mark Constantine (Western Texas/TTO) 6.74

400m-1st (1h1)Jarrin Solomon (TTO) 47.06, 2nd Cole Lambourne (USA) 47.14, 3rd Pete Lauderdale (USA) 47.24

60m Hurdles finals-1st Lorenzo Johnson (West Texas A&M) 7.79, 2nd Reubin Walters (Central Arizona) 7.88, 3rd Harold Lathan 111 (WAS) 7.92

4x400m-8th (4h2) Central Arizona (Reubin Walters) 3:14.88

Shot put-9th Hezekeil Romeo (Central Arizona) 17.33

Women

60m-11th (3h2) Kayelle Clarke (New Mexico JC) 7.75

200m-21st (1h10)Kayelle Clarke (New Mexico JC) 24.45

400m-10th (4h2) Marissa Gayle (Western Texas) 56.85

4x400m-4th Western Texas (Marissa Gale) 3:41.49

Fred Wilt Invitational, West Lafayette, Ilionois, Feb 13-14

Women 200m-11th (1h6) Kadisha Francois (Missouri State) 25.58

ASU NCAA Qualifier, Alamosa, CO, Feb 14

Men

200m- (2h5) 2nd Micah Ballantyne (Adams State) 22.46

Pima Aztec Indoor Invitational, Tucson, Arizona, Feb 7

Men shot put-2nd Hezekiel Romeo (Central Arizona) 17.61

Weight throw-5th Romeo 13.36

Battle of the Regions, Bakersfield, California, Feb 13

Men

200m-1st (1h1) Ayodele Taffe (Sequoias) 21.52, 2nd (2h1) Holland Cabara (Sequoias) 21.57

400m-1st (1h1) Ohdel James (Sequoias) 48.89

4x400m-1st ((1h2) Sequoias (James) 3:17.66, 2nd (1h1) Sequois (Theon Lewis, Ashron Sobers) 3:18.27 (sportscoretobago)

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