media_artricles :: 2017

T&T athletes in the hunt

Ahye, Baptiste chase 100m honours

Michelle-Lee Ahye and Kelly-Ann Baptiste have tough IAAF World Championship women's 100 metres semi-final assignments at the London Stadium, here in London, England, today.

At 2.10pm (T&T time), Baptiste will run in the opening heat. The Trinidad and Tobago track star has been drawn in lane two, and will need to be firing on all cylinders to secure a top-two finish and automatic qualification for the 4.50pm final.

Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, American Deejah Stevens, Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou, and Great Britain's Daryll Neita are among the women Baptiste will face in her qualification bid.

Fourth in heat six in 11.21 seconds in yesterday's opening round, Baptiste advanced to the semis as a "fastest loser".

"Tomorrow (today) is a new day," Baptiste told the Sunday Express. "The semi-finals are going to be very competitive. But it's not about times at this point. It's about lining up and beating people. I need to maximise what I'm good at, so I definitely have to start as well as I have been starting all year and just be able to hold and maintain to the end."

Ahye finished third in heat five in 11.14 seconds to progress automatically to the semis.

"I just ran to qualify, so it was good," Ahye declared.

Qualification for the championship race, however, could be quite a challenge for the national double sprint champion. Ahye has been drawn way out in lane nine for the third semi-final heat, and will face American Tori Bowie, Ivorian Murielle Ahoure, Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare, and in-form German Gina Luckenkemper in the 2.28pm race.

Khalifa St Fort, running in an individual event at a global senior meet for the very first time, bowed out of the women's century, the 19-year-old sprinter clocking 11.44 seconds for fifth spot in heat two. Though disappointed with the run, St Fort took away some positives from the experience.

"It was amazing. To hear the crowd, to see the amount of people, to see the awesome ladies I lined up with, was great. I could see myself doing this for as long as God lets me."

Thanks to a season's best 45.02 seconds run, Lalonde Gordon earned automatic qualification for today's men's 400m semis, the double Olympic bronze medallist finishing second to American Fred Kerley (44.92) in heat one.

"I felt comfortable," Gordon told the Sunday Express. "No struggle, no stress, nothing. It was smooth. Things are coming along."

Gordon's T&T teammate, Machel Cedenio is also through to the semis. His route to the penultimate round, however, was complicated.

Running in heat two, Cedenio left himself with a lot of work to do on the home straight. The national champion was equal to the task, positioning himself to secure the third automatic qualifying spot on offer. But he eased up near the end, and was passed by Italian Davide Re. Cedenio's 45.77 seconds clocking was not good enough for a "fastest loser" berth.

There was a twist, though, to the tale. Costa Rica's Nery Brenes crossed the line second, behind South Africa's reigning world champion Wayde van Niekerk (45.27), but was disqualified for a lane violation. Promoted from fourth to third, Cedenio advanced automatically.

"God is on my side," the grateful quartermiler responded, when informed of his good fortune. "I thank Him for that. It was unfortunate for the Costa Rican, but there are rules that apply.

"This could be a sign," Cedenio declared. "I'm going to rest, sleep properly, and come back harder."

At 2.48 this afternoon (T&T time), Gordon faces Van Niekerk, American LaShawn Merritt and Botswana's Baboloki Thebe in the second semi-final heat. Eight minutes later, Cedenio tackles Botswana's Isaac Makwala, American Gil Roberts and Jamaican Demish Gaye in the third semi. The top two in each heat earn automatic qualification for Tuesday's final.

Renny Quow exited the men's one-lap in round one, the T&T athlete finishing seventh in heat five in 45.95 seconds.

"My body felt weak," said Quow. "I had no kick, no strength, no speed, nothing. I couldn't respond. I'm disappointed."

Ruebin Walters and Mikel Thomas will fly the T&T flag today in the opening round of the men's 110m hurdles. At 8.23am (T&T time), Walters will do battle in heat two. And at 8.47, Thomas competes in the fifth and final heat.

Thomas told the Sunday Express that 2017 has been challenging for him, and for T&T athletes in general.

"This year has come with a lot more injuries than I would have hoped. Also, the inconsistencies with certain funding issues have definitely played a part in our preparation. But we're just trying to do our best to manage as much as possible and make the most out of the season."

T&T's lone representative in the women's 400m, Domonique Williams will be on the London Stadium track at 7.22 this morning (T&T time), competing in the fourth of six first round heats

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