media_artricles :: 2015

Disappointing day for T&T athletes

Ahye injured, Jehue falls

Kelly-Ann Baptiste clocked 11.08 seconds for sixth spot in the women's 100 metres dash, at the Prefontaine Classic IAAF Diamond League meet, in Oregon, USA, yesterday.

Another T&T sprinter, Michelle-Lee Ahye was injured during the race, and finished eighth in 11.90.

The reigning Olympic champion, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce stopped the clock at a world-leading 10.81 seconds to snatch victory in a keenly contested race.

Murielle Ahoure was also timed in 10.81-a new Ivory Coast record-but had to settle for silver, behind Fraser-Pryce and just ahead of Tori Bowie, of the United States. Bowie got home in 10.82 seconds. Though she produced an impressive clocking, Blessing Okagbare was outside the top three, the Nigerian finishing fourth in 10.87. Americans Carmelita Jeter (11.02) and Tianna Bartoletta (11.09) were fifth and seventh, respectively.

T&T's Richard "Torpedo" Thompson finished seventh in the men's 100m, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist getting to the line in 10.27 seconds.

Tyson Gay grabbed gold in the event in 9.88, while silver went to his fellow-American Michael Rodgers in 9.90.

China's Su Bingtian produced a national record run of 9.99 seconds to bag bronze, while fourth spot went to evergreen St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins, who was also credited with a 9.99 clocking. Jamaica's Nesta Carter (10.02) and Great Britain's James Dasaolu (10.13) were fifth and sixth, respectively, while eighth spot went to American Ryan Bailey (10.28).

T&T's reigning world champion, Jehue Gordon was a non-finisher in the men's 400m hurdles. He fell at the ninth hurdle.

United States swept the top three places. Johnny Dutch claimed gold in 48.20 seconds, finishing ahead of Bershawn Jackson (48.22) and Michael Tinsley (48.79).

There were world leads for Grenadian Kirani James and American Justin Gatlin. James won the men's 400m in 43.95 seconds. Gatlin, meanwhile, was the class of the field in the men's 200m, completing the half-lap race in 19.68.

T&T's Deon Lendore booked a spot in the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championship men's 400m event when he won his quarterfinal heat at the NCAA West Preliminary meet, in Texas, on Friday. The Texas A&M University senior clocked 45.40 seconds to emerge as the fastest of the West qualifiers. On Thursday, he had topped his first round heat in 46.44.

Lendore is the reigning NCAA champion, and will defend his title at the June 10-13 Championships, in Oregon, USA.

Aaron George fell short in his bid to book a ticket for Oregon, the Texas State University sophomore finishing 33rd in the men's long jump with a 7.14 metres leap.

In the men's 100m first round, Arizona State University sprinter Jamol James clocked a wind-assisted 10.88 seconds to finish eighth in heat six and 45th overall. Only the top 24 advanced to the West quarters.

On Tuesday, at the Copa Cuba in Havana, Shakiel Waithe bagged bronze in the men's javelin. The T&T thrower landed the spear 67.47m. Cubans Osmani Laffita and Guillermo Martinez finished one-two in the event, throwing 77.18m and 75.60m, respectively.

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