media_artricles :: 2015

Century duel - Bledman, Thompson bid for 100m title

Keston Bledman will be at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain today, bidding to regain the NGC-Sagicor NAAA (National Association of Athletics Administrations) Open Track and Field Championship men's 100 metres title he surrendered to Richard “Torpedo” Thompson at the same venue last year.

Bledman is the fastest Trinidad and Tobago sprinter this year at 10.01 seconds, and is tipped for top honours in the 6.50pm century final.

Thompson, however, is a fierce competitor at home, and will not be giving up his crown easily. His fastest 2015 time to date is 10.04 seconds, a clocking he produced in his April 18 100m opener in Louisiana, USA, and again at the May 9 Jamaica International Invitational.

In his most recent outing, at the May 30 Prefontaine Classic IAAF Diamond League meet, in Oregon, USA, Thompson finished seventh in 10.27 seconds.

Bledman last faced the starter a fortnight ago, at the adidas Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet, in New York, USA. Running into a 1.7 metres per second headwind, the Florida-based sprinter finished second in 10.13 seconds.

At the 2014 Championships, Thompson obliterated the field, crossing the finish line in a national record time of 9.82 seconds. Bledman clocked 10 flat to finish a distant second, while Darrel Brown was third in 10.05.

Brown was scheduled to be at the Crawford Stadium late yesterday, bidding for a place in the semifinal round of the 100m dash. Bledman, Thompson, Rondel Sorrillo, Emmanuel Callender and Marcus Duncan, however, were given byes, and did not run in the preliminaries.

Sorrillo clocked 10.17 seconds in his only 100m race this season. But the 29-year-old sprinter has not competed since sustaining an injury during the 4x100m final at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas on May 2, and there is a huge question mark over his fitness.

Callender and Duncan have enjoyed fruitful campaigns on the local circuit, and would be keen to follow up with solid performances at the T&T Championships.

Today's women's 100m final is expected to be a two-horse race featuring defending champion Michelle-Lee Ahye and national record holder Kelly-Ann Baptiste.

Jarrin Solomon was the fastest of the qualifiers for today's men's 400m final. Yesterday, he won heat three in 46.55 seconds. Reigning champion Renny Quow topped the opening heat in 46.80, Machel Cedenio got home in 47.01 to emerge victorious in heat four, Tacuma Sterling clocked 48.10 to win heat five, and Lalonde Gordon triumphed in heat two in 49.74.

Defending champion Janeil Bellille led all qualifiers into today's women's 400m final with a 53.40 seconds clocking. Bellille topped heat three, finishing just ahead of St Vincent and the Grenadines athlete Kineke Alexander (53.45). Magnolia Howell (54.80) and Romona Modeste (55.03) won the other heats, and will challenge Bellille for the one-lap crown.

Olympic men's javelin champion Keshorn Walcott, 2013 IAAF World Championship men's 400m hurdles gold medallist Jehue Gordon, veteran shot putter Cleopatra Borel, and sprint hurdler Mikel Thomas will also be on show at the Crawford Stadium this weekend.

With just two runners showing up for yesterday's men's 10,000m, it was declared an exhibition event. Kenyan Kenneth Rotich won easily in a Championship record time of 30 minutes, 48.25 seconds. Jameel Cupidore clocked 38:05:59 for the runner-up spot.

Emmanuel Stewart struck gold in the men's hammer throw with a 52.49 metres effort—a new Championship record. And in the women's hammer throw, Tamara Louis threw 32.09m to capture the top spot.

Today's opening ceremony starts at 2 p.m., while the first events are scheduled for 3pm. Tomorrow's action starts at 2.30pm.

YESTERDAY'S FINALS

Men's 10,000m (exhibition)

1. Kenneth Rotich (Kenya) 30:48:25 CR
2. Jameel Cupidore (UTT) 38:05:59

Men's hammer throw

1. Emmanuel Stewart (Zenith) 52.49m CR
2. Gabriel Guerra (Toco TAFAC) 23.18m
3. Darian Raphael (Toco TAFAC) 18.83m

Women's hammer throw

1. Tamara Louis (Toco TAFAC) 32.09m
2. Ajoda Springer (Toco TAFAC) 19.02m
3. Cherry Thomas-Robertson (Toco TAFAC) 14.74m

CR – Championship Record

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