media_artricles :: 2015

Mouth-watering clashes in making at NAAA Championships

Several high-profile clashes will feature at this year’s NGC/Sagicor NAAA Open Track and Field Championships set to get underway at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from today to Sunday.

The sprinting events again hold the spotlight with the women’s 100m taking centre stage slightly ahead of the men. The match up between defending ladies sprint champion Michelle-Lee Ahye (Unattached) and 2011 World Championships bronze medallist and national record holder Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Zenith) is a mouth-watering one. Ahye took the 2014 crown in 10.88 after running 10.85 in the semifinals while Baptiste won the 2012 and 2013 titles.

The top two have already dipped below 11 seconds for the year with Ahye recording an impressive 10.97 (2.5m/s head wind) win at the Florida Relays, USA on April 3 with Baptiste clocking 10.98 to take the Tom Jones Memorial on April 24. Baptiste also recorded 11.00 and 11.08 clockings on May 16 which Lee also posted 11.05 in her Beijing World Challenge triumph.

With their season’s best time Ahye and Baptiste are ranked ninth and tenth in the world respectively. However, Ahye has not raced since pulling up in the Diamond League Eugene 100m event earlier this month.

Behind the top two the race for bronze seem to be led by Reyare Thomas (Abilene Wildcats) who is the next best ranked T&T’s female sprinter at 144th following 11.44 clocking to finish second at the Barbados National Championships on June 20. Other top eight contenders are Olympic finalist Semoy Hackett (Zenith), 2014 World Relay bronze medallists Kai Selvon (Air Bon Sonics) and Kamaria Durant (Simplex), World Junior finalists Aaliyah Telesford (Pt Fortin New Jets) and Zakiya Denoon (Zenith).

Former World Indoor 60m bronze Tahesia Harrigan Scott (BVI) and compatriot Karene King will lead the list for foreign competitors who are expected to face the starters in the heats set for this evening with the semifinals and finals carded for tomorrow. Athletes from St Kitts Nevis and Guyana have also registered to compete in a field of 33 competitors.

Bledman vs Thompson

In the men’s 100m, defending champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson (Rebirth) heads a list of 86 entrants. Thompson won the 2014 title in a national record of 9.82 ahead of Keston Bledman (Simplex), the 2013 winner. Bledman had the best time for the year among local sprinters with his 10.01 clocking in winning at the Tom Jones Invitational in Florida on April 24.

Thompson is next with 10.04 in taking the LSU Alumni Gold title in Louisiana, USA on April 18. Jamol James (Memphis Pioneers) is third best with 10.15 with veteran and former champion Marc Burns (Rebirth), Rondel Sorillo (La Brea) next on 10.17. All are favoured to advanced to the finals.

Emmanuel Callender (Memphis Pioneers), national double junior champion Jonathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats) as well are former World Junior champion Darrel Brown (Abilene Wildcats) are similarly expected to qualify for the medal round. A strong trio from St Kitts Nevis (Antoine Adams, Allister Clarke, Brijesh Lawrence) and Barbadian Levi Cadogan lead the cast of foreigner competitors.

Cedenio vs the rest

The men’s 400m promises to be another marque event with the second and third fastest men’s in world scheduled to battle for the gold. Reigning World Junior champion Machel Cedenio (Simplex) and a multiple NCAA winner Deon Lendore (Abilene Wildcats) raced to fast 44.36 and 44.41 clockings earlier in the season. However, reports suggest that Lendore may skip the meet.

Nevertheless with sub-46 seconds clockings already for the season double Olympic and Commonwealth bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon (Nike)-45.50, former World Junior champion Renny Quow (Zenith)-45.57 and Olympic and Commonwealth relay bronze medallist Jarrin Solomon (Memphis Pioneers) -45.62 all will make for an exciting and quality race. Jereem Richards (Abilene Wildcats), with his pb run of 45.91, is not among the starters. Reigning Olympic champion and world leader Kirani James (Grenada) was announced by the NAAA as a possible starter.

However his name has not appeared on the preliminary list of entries on the NAAA’s website.

The women’s 400m will be headlined by defending champion Janeil Bellille (Abilene Wildcats) who set a new national record of 51.83 in her victory last year. The 2008 World Junior 400m hurdles silver medallist will be tested by another hurdler Sparkle McKnight (Memphis Pioneers) as well Romona Modeste (Abilene Wildcats), Magnolia Howell (Unattached), Alena Brooks (Memphis Pioneers). Kineke Alexander (SVG) is among three foreigners in the 23 member field. The 400m heats are set for Friday with the finals carded for Saturday.

The men’s 10,000m is listed as the first final (to be held on Friday evening) of the championships where three competitors (Mark Lee Son-Unattached, Jameel Cupidore-UTT and Kenyan Kenneth Rotich).

The first field event final is the women’s hammer throw where defending champion Tamara Louis will lead a field of only Toco TAFAC competitors in the event, including national under 20 winner Malika Elcock. National record holder Emmanuel Stewart (Zenith) is among six vying for gold in the men’s event. Veteran coach and International Technical official John Andalcio will lead four Toco TAFAC competitors.

In the men’s shot put national record holder Akeem Stewart (Tobago Falcons) will be up against several former Carifta champions. Carifta Boys under 20 winner two years ago Hezekiel Romeo (Rebirth) and 2011 and 2012 boys under 17 gold medallist Shevorne Worrell (UTT) and Kenejah Williams (Tobago Falcons) are in a field of nine throwers.

Among the ten ladies in the women’s event is multiple Commonwealth and Pan American games medallist Cleopatra Borel (Rebirth) who will face this year’s Carifta girls under 20 victrix Portious Warren (Toco TAFAC), three time Carifta champ Chelsea James (Tobago Falcons) and World Masters gold medallists Geraldine George and Gwendolyn Smith, both of Palo Seco.

The men’s long jump will feature this year’s Carifta boys under 20 Andwuelle Wright (Rebirth), national junior triple jump record holder Elton Walcott (UTT), former NCAA triple jump medallist Kyron Blaise (Rebirth) in a field of 20 competitors.

Reigning Olympic javelin Keshorn Walcott (Rebirth) is the overwhelming favourite in the men’s javelin following his back to back national record throws in the IAAF Diamond League earlier this month. Walcott’s club mate, former Carifta champion, Shakeil Waithe will lead the battle for the silver medal. This year’s Carifta boys under 18 gold medallist and record holder Tyriq Horsford is among seven Zenith competitors in a field of 13.

Reigning World champion Jehue Gordon (Memphis Pioneers) heads the entries in the men’s 400m hurdles. Gordon already booked his spot to this year’s World Championships in Beijing, China from August 22-30 as defending champion are automatic qualifiers. CAC Senior champion two years ago Emmanuel Mayers (Rebirth) and World Junior sprint hurdles finalist Reubin Walters (Memphis Pioneers) are among the nine starters.

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