media_artricles :: 2015

Ahye excited to run at home today

Ace sprinter Michelle Lee Ahye says she is ready for action when the NGC Sagicor National Open Championships take off today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, at 2.30 pm. Ahye, this country’s most consistent sprinter on the international stage for the past year, has been hampered somewhat by a hamstring injury recently but declared herself 100 percent fit yesterday on the eve of a potential showdown between herself and the mercurial Kelly-Ann Baptiste.

“I feel good going in, relaxed and ready to run,” she said yesterday.

And with the Hasely Crawford Stadium expected to attract a good crowd today to witness the exciting 100m finals, Ahye said running at home is always a special feeling compared to her exploits all over the world.

“I’m always excited to run in front of the local fans. When you’re home in front of the local fans, you’re more hype and get more excited,” she said.

Pressed as to what to expect today, the 23-year-old stated: “Just gotta wait and see.”

In the main equivalent, Keston Bledman is the undoubted favourite while Richard “Torpedo” Thompson cannot be discounted.

Another cracker on the schedule is the Men’s 400m event which is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated for several years. Lining up yesterday for the preliminaries were World Junior champion Machel Cedenio, 2009 World bronze medallist Renny Quow, double Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon and Olympic relay bronze medallists Ade Alleyne-Forte and Jarrin Solomon.

Triple jumper Ayanna Alexander is expected to be unstoppable today in her quest for gold while local fans will have to wait to tomorrow to see their Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott live.

Walcott has admitted he will not be pushing himself as there is none to really challenge him on home soil. Fifteen-year-old Carifta champion Tariq Horsford of Tobago is an exciting prospect and will enjoy competing one of the best javelin throwers in the world.

Top