media_artricles :: 2017

Ahye, Keshorn to lead TT challenge at World Champs

AFTER being scrutinised for a below-par 2016 Rio Olympic performance, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago team Ian Carter believes the team is now mentally stronger leading up to the 2017 London World Championships, which takes place from August 5-13.

A provisional team of 23 athletes and 11 officials will represent TT at the Championships. 

Other athletes can still make the TT team, as the cut off time to qualify for the World Championships is July 23. 

This is the first major meet for the TT athletes since the Rio Olympics, where Keshorn Walcott got this country's only medal. 

Walcott earned his second Olympic medal when he got bronze in the men's javelin. The team was criticised for their performance in Rio with people venting their disappointment on social media. 

Carter is confident the TT athletes will bounce back from the Rio Olympics. "I am hopeful that they would have gotten over the Olympic experience and that they understand better how fickle the public could be at times," Carter said. 

"I think the Olympic experience and the disappointment that the public felt and how the athletes reacted to it would have helped them become stronger and have greater resolve going into the World Championships. 

I think they will be mentally stronger." The TT women have been in top form of late, outshining the men at the National Championships held last month at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. 

Michelle-Lee Ahye achieved the sprint double (100 and 200 metres) and will be seeking gold in both events, as well as the women's 4x100-metre relay. 

Carter thinks the TT athletes will compete at a high level and expects the relay teams to excel. 

"I think we stand a good chance particularly in the relays. 

The women have rounded into pretty good form. We looking for some positive results from Kelly-Ann (Baptiste) and Michelle-Lee (Ahye) in particular. 

For the men, they have not ran extremely great times this year, but they have been fairly consistent and I think if we do the relay work I think we could feature (prominently) in the relays." TT will participate in the women's 4x100m relay, men's 4x100m relay and men's 4x400m relay. 

Team TT will be without three-time Olympian Richard Thompson due to injury. Carter said this is an opportunity for someone else to take up the leadership role. 

"It may be a good thing or a bad thing that Richard Thompson is not in the team. They depended on Richard for leadership for so long. They now have to search for a new leader and I think that will augur well for the team." Carter, who will also serve as a sprints and hurdles coach, says the spiritual leadership will come from Emmanuel Callender. 

The team will leave Trinidad on July 26 to attend a pre-camp at Brunel University in London, before going to the Games Village on August 1. 

Speaking about the importance of the pre camp, Carter said, "The pre-camps are important particularly for the team to jell and because we have not been competing as teams in the relays. The pre-camp helps us prepare the relay teams for competition." TT TEAM Women: Michelle-Lee Ahye (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Kelly- Ann Baptiste (100m, 4x100m), Khalifa St Fort (100m, 4x100m), Semoy Hackett (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Kayelle Clarke (200m, 4x100m), Kamaria Durant (4x100m), Domonique Williams (400m), Sparkle McKnight (400m hurdles). 

Men: Emmanuel Callender (100m, 4x100m), Keston Bledman (100m, 4x100m), Jereem Richards (200m, 4x400m), Kyle Greaux (200m, 4x100m), Lalonde Gordon (400m, 4x400m), Machel Cedenio (400m, 4x400m), Reubin Walters (110m hurdles), Mikel Thomas (110m hurdles), Keshorn Walcott (javelin), Rondell Sorillo (4x100m), Moriba Morain (4x100m), Dan-Neil Telesford (4x100m), Renny Quow (4x400m), Jarrin Solomon (4x400m), Joshua St Clair (4x400m). 

Officials: Dexter Voison (manager), Ian Carter (sprint and hurdles coach, head coach), Ismael Lopez-Mastrapa (throws), Charles Joseph (sprints), Gunness Persad (sprints), Ken Barton (sprints), Anyl Gopeesingh (doctor), Akila Gomez (physio therapist), Shurland Bonas (massage therapist), Nicole Fuentes (massage therapist), Anthony Walcott (massage therapist). 

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