media_artricles :: 2015

DOUBLE GOLD

Lalonde, Thomas win at NACAC Champs

Lalonde Gordon and Mikel Thomas produced golden runs for Trinidad and Tobago on the second day of the 2015 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Senior Track and Field Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, yesterday.

Gordon powered to victory in the men’s 400 metres final, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist outclassing his rivals with an impressive 44.89 seconds clocking. Nery Brenes gave his hometown fans something to celebrate, the Costa Rican quarter-miler seizing silver in 45.22, ahead of Jamaica’s Ricardo Chambers (45.37).

Thomas was the class of the field in the men’s 110m hurdles, the T&T athlete getting to the line in a championship record time of 13.23 seconds. Cuba’s Jhoanis Portilla was the runner-up in 13.30, while third spot went to United States Virgin Islands athlete Eddie Lovett (13.31).

Michelle-Lee Ahye bagged bronze in the women’s 100m dash, the T&T sprinter clocking 11.22 seconds. The Americans swept the top two spots. Barbara Pierre won in 11.12, with Charonda Williams second in 11.21.

The other T&T athlete in the championship race, Reyare Thomas got to the line in 11.54 to finish eighth.

Deborah John clocked a wind-assisted 13.42 seconds to finish eighth in the women’s 100m hurdles final. American Lolo Jones won in 12.63.

At press time, last night, T&T’s Shakiel Waithe was still competing in the men’s javelin, while Kyron Blaise and Dwaine Herbert were in action in the men’s long jump. The men’s and women’s 4x100m relay finals had not yet been contested.

Late on Friday, Jaleesa Williams earned women’s discus silver for T&T with a 37.06 metres throw. American Summer Pierson produced a 56.64m effort to emerge victorious, while third spot went to Honduras’ Alma Guitierrez (36.67m).

T&T athletes, Elton Walcott and Steve Waithe were sixth and ninth, respectively, in the men’s triple jump. Walcott jumped a wind-aided 16.00m, and also had a legal 15.90m effort. Waithe jumped a windy 15.67m and a legal 15.34m. Dominica’s Yordany Duranona grabbed gold with a meet record jump of 16.98m.

T&T will have two representatives in this evening’s women’s 200m final. Semoy Hackett led all qualifiers with victory in Friday’s first qualifying heat in 22.59 seconds--a new NACAC Senior Championship record. Kamaria Durant was second in heat three in 23.44, and also advanced.

T&T’s Sparkle McKnight will challenge for women’s 400m hurdles honours. She won heat one in 56.45 seconds to become the meet record holder. But the mark did not last long, American Tiffany Williams winning heat two in 55.85 to claim the record.

Emanuel Mayers was second in the opening men’s 400m hurdles heat in 50.49 seconds, and will bid for precious metal in the final.

Kyle Greaux will compete in the men’s 200m final. In the semifinal round, the T&T athlete won heat one in 20.47 seconds. Dan-Neil Telesford was disqualified in heat three for running out of his lane.

In the preliminary round, Greaux was third in heat one in 20.62 seconds, while Telesford was third in heat five in 20.96.

Jamaal James returned a time of one minute, 50.69 seconds to finish second in the first of three men’s 800m qualifying heats, the T&T half-miler securing an automatic berth in the final. Nicholas Landeau, however, was eliminated after finishing third in the last heat in 1:53.20.

Alena Brooks booked her spot in the women’s 800m championship race as a “fastest loser”. The T&T athlete finished fourth in heat two in 2:06.41.

Hezekiel Romeo will compete in today’s men’s shot put, and Deandra Daniel battles for honours in the women’s high jump. T&T will also be in action in the men’s and women’s 4x400m events.

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