media_artricles :: 2017

Ahye on show in Grenada

Michelle-Lee Ahye heads the Trinidad and Tobago cast for today's Grenada Invitational, at the National Stadium in St George's, Grenada.

The T&T list also includes sprinters Emmanuel Callender, Semoy Hackett and Reyare Thomas, quartermilers Jarrin Solomon and Renny Quow, middle-distance runner Samantha Shukla, quartermiler/hurdler Sparkle McKnight, high jumper Deandra Daniel and javelin thrower Shakeil Waithe. Keshorn Walcott, the 2012 Olympic men's javelin champion, and 2013 IAAF World Championship men's 400 metres hurdles gold medallist Jehue Gordon were originally listed to compete, but have withdrawn from the meet.

Callender faces the starter in the men's 100m dash. The double Olympic sprint relay medallist will square off against 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin of the United States, Jamaica's former world record holder Asafa Powell and veteran St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins.

The Grenada meet will also feature Jamaica's two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, American LaShawn Merritt and Grenadian hero Kirani James. Bahamian quartermiler Chris Brown, who has twice staged a successful invitational meet in his homeland, has been instrumental in putting together the cast of world class athletes.

"I hope to be emulating the efforts of stalwart Chris Brown," Callender explained, "to promote similar international meets in Trinidad and Tobago one day when my career winds down. We are one Caribbean people and more international track meets will augur well for the region.

"Countries that cooperated to host international matches yesteryear," the T&T athlete continued, "is what assisted the West Indies cricket team to be a dominant force and produce generations of world class athletes."

Callender said meets like the Grenada Invitational are necessary for the growth of track and field in the region.

It is important for our young athletes of the Caribbean to compete with each other outside of the Carifta (Games) to improve on the quality of the young Usain Bolts, Richard Thompsons, Asafa Powells, Kelly-Ann Baptistes. A consolidated effort from us outgoing seniors and our parent bodies is necessary to capitalise on the regional pool of talent."

The elite section of the Grenada Invitational programme is scheduled to start at six o'clock this evening.

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