media_artricles :: 2017

Elcock, St Fort sizzle

Jerod Elcock and Khalifa St Fort captured the NGC NAAA National Junior Track and Field Championship under-20 100 metres titles at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday.

Elcock was golden in the boys' final, the Abilene sprinter getting to the line in a personal best 10.32 seconds. Jalen Purcell also produced his best, claiming silver in 10.36. Bronze went to Tyrell Edwards in 10.55. Elcock and Purcell previewed their championship race duel in the wind-aided second semi-final heat, Elcock winning in 10.31 seconds with Purcell second in 10.35.

Florida-based St Fort was in a race of her own in the girls' under-20 century. Displaying the bravado of her coach, retired track star Ato Boldon, St Fort pointed in the direction of the clock as she crossed the finish line first in 11.40 seconds. Shikyla Walcott was a distant second in 11.74, while St Fort's training partner Sarah Wollaston clocked 11.87 for third spot.

A superb front-running effort earned Abilene sprinter Adell Colthrust gold in the boys' under-18 100m final. The Carifta Games champion clocked a wind-assisted 10.45 seconds to finish well ahead of Brandon Monsegeue, the silver medallist in 10.79.

Three-time Carifta Games boys' under-18 javelin champion Tyriq Horsford produced yet another classy performance. The Zenith (Tobago) thrower landed the spear 73.15 metres to add another title to his growing collection.

Unchallenged for the boys' under-20 400m crown, Jacob St Clair made a bold bid to better his personal best of 46.53 seconds. The Abilene quartermiler fell just short, winning the one-lap race in 46.59 for a huge cushion on his clubmate Judah Taylor, the silver medallist in 48-flat.

In the girls' under-16 category, Rae-Anne Serville completed an impressive double. The Memphis Pioneers athlete secured 100m hurdles gold in a windy 14.41 seconds, finishing well ahead of Patrice Richards (15.03) and Shaniqua Bascombe (15.17).

In the 400m flat race, Serville won in 55.27 seconds. Again, Richards was forced to settle for silver, the runner-up getting home in 58.39. Serville seized early control of the race, quickly making up the stagger on the athletes on her outside. Entering the home straight with a comfortable lead, Serville proceeded to take on the clock, the talented 15-year-old motoring home for the easiest of victories.

But it was not all silver for Richards. The Neon Wolves athlete triumphed in the girls' under-16 long jump with a wind-aided 4.88m leap. In a virtual stroll to the line, Abilene's Avindale Smith won the boys' under-16 400m in 51.29 seconds. Silver went to Jordan Pope in 52.01.

Akil Boisson produced a strong finish to grab boys' under-18 400m gold in 49.58 seconds. Kaylon Thomson, the silver medallist in 50.41, led the race into the home straight. But it was Boisson who had more fuel in his tank, the Memphis quartermiler overhauling Thomson for the win. Joanna Rogers was the class of the girls' under-18 400m field, the Cougars athlete emerging victorious in 56.50 seconds. Abilene's Renee Stoddard clocked 59.46 to take home girls' under-20 one-lap gold.

Jamaican Briana Williams, running as a guest athlete, made light work of her rivals in the girls' under-18 100m. The Boldon-coached sprinter got to the line in 11.55 seconds for a wide margin of victory, Zenith's Ayla Stanisclaus claiming silver in 11.91.

Pushed by a 2.1 metres per second following wind—marginally above the 2.0 legal limit—Maximising Athletic Potential (MAP) athlete Ayele Joseph clocked 10.94 seconds for victory in the boys' under-16 100m dash. Shakeem McKay snapped up silver in 10.96. McKay battled hard, but could not catch Joseph.

Bascombe clocked a windy 11.77 seconds in the girls' under-16 100m final, the Cougars sprinter winning easily.

Ianna Roach powered to victory in the girls' under-18 shot put. The Carifta Games champion threw 14.91m. Her Memphis teammate, Clement Campbell produced a 6.61m leap for gold in the boys' under-20 long jump. And Konnel Jacob won the boys' under-20 shot put, the Jaguars athlete throwing the iron ball 16.98m.

The NGC NAAA National Junior Championships continue from 9 am today, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

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