media_artricles :: 2015

Wright, Horsford, Warren strike gold

Andwuelle Wright captured Trinidad and Tobago’s fourth gold medal at the 2015 Carifta Games here in Basseterre, St Kitts, late yesterday.

Just before press time, Wright was crowned Boys Under-20 long jump champion, the 17-year-old athlete entertaining an appreciative crowd at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium with a wind-assisted 7.44 metres leap.

Tyriq Horsford produced a monster throw in the morning session, landing the spear a record-breaking 70.73m to secure gold in the Boys Under-18 javelin.

Horsford, who turned 15 in January, upstaged his older rivals with the jaw-dropping round five effort. After four rounds, the T&T field athlete trailed Jamaica’s Kevin Nedrick (65.09m). But everything then fell into place for Horsford, the young thrower establishing a new Carifta Games under-18 record, as well as T&T Under-16 and Under-18 records.

“I was shocked,” Horsford told the Express, “shocked and excited at the same time. The goal I came into the Games with was to achieve 70 metres, and I did so.”

Another T&T thrower, Vandell Joseph claimed bronze with a 61.67m effort, while Nedrick’s 65.09m throw earned him silver.

Portious Warren threw a personal best 15.22m to grab gold in the Girls Under-20 shot put. Another T&T thrower, Chelsea James produced a 14.73m effort, also a PR (personal record), to bag bronze. Trevia Gumbs, of the British Virgin Islands, claimed silver with a 14.83m throw.

“I’m extremely gratified,” Warren told the Express. “Though I didn’t go away with the record, I came away with a PR, 15.22, first 15 of the season. There are many more to come.

“For me,” she continued, “I have no limitation. I just want to go out there each and every time, just give it my best because you never know what’s your limit.”

Cheziah Phillip bagged Girls Under-18 400m hurdles bronze in one minute, 07.98 seconds.

Late on Saturday, Akanni Hislop clocked 10.47 seconds to earn silver for T&T in the Boys Under-18 100m dash. Bahamian Javan Martin won in 10.41, while bronze went to Jamaican Tyreke Wilson (10.56).

Kayelle Clarke was fourth in the Girls Under-20 100m final in 11.75 seconds. And in the Boys Under-20 100m, Xavier Mulugata clocked 10.65 to finish sixth.

Hislop, Clarke and Jonathan Farinha are into today’s 200m finals. Farinha won his Boys Under-20 heat in 21 seconds flat to lead all qualifiers into the championship race. Hislop was the fastest of the Boys Under-18 qualifiers, topping his heat in 21.25. And Clarke clocked 23.94 for second spot in her Girls Under-20 heat.

At press time, yesterday, T&T had 11 medals—four gold, four silver and three bronze.

Isaiah Taylor was the first of the T&T gold medallists, winning Saturday’s boys’ under-18 shot put with a Games record throw of 17.56m.

“Strategy was just to remain calm,” said Taylor. “I came out here and I did what I was supposed to do. All the hard work that I have done was not in vain. I’m very glad for making this pb (personal best), and I know I have a lot more progress to make.”

Taylor outlined the keys to his success.

“Thanking God every day, remaining calm, talking with my coach, and just getting support from my family, friends, and also my coach.”

In a moving ceremony, yesterday, the Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium was re-named the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium, in honour of the country’s 2003 100m world champion.

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