media_artricles :: 2015

Hislop bows out in World Youth semis

St Fort on fire

Akanni Hislop was eliminated in the semi-final round of the boys' 100 metres dash, at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, late on Wednesday.

Hislop looked set to secure second spot in heat three and an automatic berth in the final. However, the Trinidad and Tobago sprinter did not lean at the line, allowing three sprinters to finish ahead of him in a close contest for that crucial runner-up spot.

Hislop finished fifth in 10.61 seconds, just two-hundredths of a second slower than second-placed Milo Skupin-Alfa of Germany. Skupin-Alfa's 10.59 run earned him a slight edge on third-placed Wenyi Luo (10.60) of China, fourth-placed Jamaican Xavior Angus (10.61) and Hislop. Brazil's Derick Silva won the semifinal in 10.49.

In heat two, Japan's Abdul Hakim Sani Brown triumphed in 10.30 seconds, equalling the Championship record he had established in the preliminary round.

In the final, Sani Brown completed a superb series of century races with victory in 10.28 seconds--a new Championship record. Silva clocked 10.49 to finish a distant second, the Brazilian matching his surname with the colour of his medal. Bronze, meanwhile, went to Great Britain's Rechmial Miller in 10.59.

Hislop will have a second shot at a World Youth Championship medal in the boys' 200m event. At 1.10 this afternoon (T&T time), he faces the starter in heat six in the preliminary round of the half-lap event.

At 20.91 seconds, Hislop is the fourth fastest sprinter entered in the 200, and would fancy his chances of reaching the podium.

Khalifa St Fort was on fire in the opening round of the girls' 100m dash, yesterday. The T&T sprinter clocked a personal best 11.39 seconds to win heat two, advancing to the semis as joint-fastest qualifier with Great Britain's Hannah Brier.

"The race went great," said a smiling St Fort. "My blocks were great, my foot was on the block when I got out, I stayed in my drive phase, no panic, no snappy movements. I executed well."

Late yesterday, St Fort competed in the first of three semifinal heats. The final was contested at 9.05 last night.

T&T's Akidah Briggs, meanwhile, threw 11.83 metres to finish 36th in yesterday's girls' shot put qualifying competition. The top 12 progressed to the final.

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