media_artricles :: 2016

St Fort, Horsford tipped for gold

Khalifa St Fort is among the Trinidad and Tobago sprinters who will face the starter on the opening day of Carifta 2016, at the National Athletics Stadium here in St George's, Grenada, today.

US-based St Fort and her training partner, Sarah Wollaston will be on show in the girls' under-20 100 metres dash. Jenea Spinks and Akilah Lewis compete in the girls' under-18 100. And in the boys' under-18 century, Adell Colthrust and Tyrell Edwards will fly the T&T flag.

St Fort clocked a personal best 11.19 seconds in taking silver at last year's World Youth Championships, and is among the favourites for gold here in Grenada. She arrived on the island on Wednesday night, along with Wollaston and their coach Ato Boldon.

"It's a little bit of a weird space for me," Boldon told the Express, "because Khalifa's training does not peak her for March. Having said that, she looked very good at the trials in Trinidad a couple weeks ago. She said she wants to run 11.17. That would be great because that's a little ahead of where I think she would be right this minute."

St Fort was victorious at the trials with a wind-assisted 11.39 seconds run, while Wollaston was second in 12.04.

"For Sarah I just want her to get under 12 legally," said Boldon. "For her, she's playing with house money. She's only been with me for five months and she's ahead of schedule.

"I just want them to have fun," the former track star continued. "This is a long way away from where they have to peak. For Khalifa her training is peaking in July for the World Juniors and obviously August and the Olympics."

While St Fort has an excellent shot at gold in the 100m, she will have her work cut out in the 200m. Barbadian Sada Williams firmly established herself as the favourite with a jaw-dropping 22.61 seconds run two Fridays ago. The clocking is a national record and puts Williams in second spot on the 2016 world outdoor performance list.

"I am blown away by this young lady from Barbados. That 22.61 is a good opener for a pro, but the coach in me wants to see Khalifa line up against her. If she gets a personal best out of it, it puts her closer to sub-11. I would love for her to win but that's a second faster than Khalifa has run in her life, so that's no easy task to conquer."

Boldon said St Fort is undaunted by the prospect of going head-to-head with Williams. "Khalifa doesn't care. She ran against Candice Hill last year, the fastest girl ever, and welcomes the challenge to face Williams."

While Boldon was not named as part of the T&T coaching staff for the Carifta Games, he will play an important role. "I am coach for Khalifa and Sarah, so I am coach for half of the 4x100 relay. They are running first and second, Sarah and Khalifa. We have already started getting our half of the relay done, so we only have the other two legs to worry about.

"Khalifa tripling," the coach continued, "presents a little bit of a problem because there's so many rounds. She has a round right before the semi-final of the 200 in the 4x1. It would be nice if somebody could sub out for her, but we'll see."

Boldon said he is available to assist other members of the T&T team. "If I am asked I am willing to do whatever, but my priority is obviously my two charges. I used to look on from the sidelines and say the results aren't what they should be and they're declining, and they used to say 'well, do something about it'. Well, I'm trying to do something about it now."

Day one action here in Grenada is scheduled to start at 9am with three field events. Tyriq Horsford defends his boys' under-18 javelin title and is tipped to return to the top of the podium. Ianna Roach represents T&T in the girls' under-18 shot put. And Safiya John is listed for action in the girls' under-18 high jump.

Also competing in T&T colours today will be Onal Mitchell and Che Lara (boys' under-18 400), Renee Stoddard (girls' under-20 400), Kershel McIntyre (girls' under-18 1500), Omari Benoit (boys' under-20 high jump), Clement Campbell (boys' under-18 triple jump), Chelsea James (girls' under-20 shot put), Antonia Sealy and Anya Akili (girls' open heptathlon), and Ian West and Kerlon Ashby (boys' open octathlon).

Become a subscriber to the Trinidad Express Newspapers for access to all our articles via our e-paper.

Click here to subscribe | Log- In

Top