media_artricles :: 2016

Ahye, Lendore clinch Diamond League silver

MICHELLE-LEE AHYE and Deon Lendore followed their fellow national athlete Keshorn Walcott, both winning silver medals at the IAAF Diamond League (London Anniversary Games) at the Olympic Stadium in London, yesterday.

Ahye was the runner- up in a thrilling finish in the nine-athlete women's 100-metre final. Ahye clocked 10.99 seconds as she continued her preparations towards the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil which runs from August 5 to 21.

Winning gold in the women's 100m yesterday was Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast in 10.96, while twotime Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica was third in 11.06.

Fraser-Pryce, a favourite for the gold in Rio, stormed out the blocks in typical fashion but was caught around 70m by Ta Lou and Ahye respectively.

Ta Lou, pumping her legs furiously, just managed to hold off the Trinbagonian to claim the gold.

In the semifinal heats, Ahye finished second in heat two in 11.03 behind Ta Lou who won the heat in 10.96. Fraser-Pryce won heat one in 11.03.

The top three in each heat qualified for the finals plus the next three fastest times.

Ahye will compete in the women's 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events in Rio.

Lendore, who will represent Trinidad and Tobago in the men's 400m and men's 4x400m relay events in Rio, grabbed silver in 45.34 in the nine-athlete men's 400m yesterday.

Winning the event was Great Britain's Matthew Hudson- Smith in 45.03, while Rabah Yousif also of Great Britain snatched bronze in 45.45. TT ended the Diamond League event with three silver medals, after defending Olympic gold medal winner Walcott secured silver in the men's javelin on Friday with a throw of 83.60m.

A team of 32 athletes in eight disciplines will represent TT at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It will be this country's largest ever contingent at the Olympics surpassing the 2012 London Olympic team which had 31 athletes.

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