media_artricles :: 2017

Ahye, Cedenio defend

Bledman tipped; Thompson skips 2017 season

Michelle-Lee Ahye and Machel Cedenio open their NGC/Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championship title defences at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, this evening.

Ahye, who captured her third women's 100 metres crown at the same venue last year, will bid to deny Kelly-Ann Baptiste national century title number eight. Both sprinters will be on show in today's preliminary round, scheduled to start at 6.35. The field also includes Semoy Hackett, Reyare Thomas, Kamaria Durant and 2017 Carifta Games girls' under-20 double sprint champion Khalifa St Fort.

Cedenio is hoping to repeat as men's 400m champion. But the one-lap is always very competitive, and will feature four former champions—Lalonde Gordon, Deon Lendore, Zwede Hewitt and seven-time winner Renny Quow. Jarrin Solomon and junior quartermiler Jacob St Clair would also be hopeful of advancing to tomorrow's final.

Keston Bledman is tipped to win the men's 100m title for the fourth time in his career. The 29-year-old sprinter will not have to contend with reigning champion Richard "Torpedo" Thompson, who is skipping the entire 2017 season, allowing his body a full recovery ahead of his 2018 campaign.

Emmanuel Callender has been enjoying a consistent season, and could be a serious contender for the title. Also on the men's 100m entry list are Rondel Sorrillo, Moriba Morain, Marcus Duncan, Dan-Neil Telesford, Kyle Greaux, Jamol James, former champion Darrel Brown, sprint hurdler Mikel Thomas and juniors Jerod Elcock and Jalen Purcell.

Thomas will be on the track twice today, first in the 100m preliminaries and then in the qualifying round of the 110m hurdles. Wayne Davis II is usually Thomas' chief rival at home. However, the two-time champion is sitting out the 2017 season. In Davis' absence, NCAA silver medallist Ruebin Walters is the main challenger for Thomas' sprint hurdles title.

Domonique Williams looks a safe bet to repeat as women's 400m champion. The road to gold starts with today's preliminary round run.

Jamaal James and defending champion Nicholas Landeau seem set for an exciting duel in Sunday's men's 800m final. They will compete in the heats this evening.

Four titles will be decided at the Crawford Stadium today—men's, women's and boys' under-20 hammer throw, as well as the men's 10,000m. Action gets under way at 6 p.m.

Spectators will be treated to a track and field treat this weekend. The list of participants includes 2013 men's 400m hurdles world champion Jehue Gordon, Olympic women's shot put finalist Cleopatra Borel and half-lap sensation Jereem Richards, who became Trinidad and Tobago's second sub-20 200m sprinter with a 19.97 seconds run on May 27.

Missing from the cast is Keshorn Walcott. The 2012 Olympic men's javelin champion has a sore back, and is being rested as a precautionary measure. However, Walcott has bettered the 83.00 metres IAAF World Championship qualifying standard seven times this year, at three different meets, and looks a sure pick for the August 4-13 World Champs in London, England.

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