Source:www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kwame Laurence

Tonya NeroTonya Nero smashed her own Trinidad and Tobago women's 10,000 metres record, at the Stanford Invitational outdoor track and field meet, in California, USA, on Friday.

The Wichita State University student returned a time of 33 minutes, 11.71 seconds, more than 21 seconds faster than the previous T&T standard, 3:32.84, established at the same meet last year. Nero's 33:11.71 run is also a new Wichita State record.

Nero finished second in Friday's 10K race, just behind American Tara Erdmann, the winner in 33:10.15.

Nero's sister, Scarla Nero was 27th in the women's 10,000m B race in 35:34.68.

Annie Alexander opened her 2011 campaign in style, winning the women's shot put and discus events at last weekend's University of Central Florida (UCF) Invitational. The University of Tennessee field athlete threw 16.64 metres in the shot put and 55.06m in the discus. Another T&T thrower, Jacksonville University student Akeela Bravo finished ninth in the discus with a 45.21m effort and eighth in the hammer throw (49.41m).

Ananda Fraser bagged women's triple jump bronze, the University of Rhode Island senior producing an 11.66m effort. She was 18th in the long jump with a 5.24m leap.

Jamaal James finished seventh in the men's 1500m in 4:01.27. Florida International University (FIU) sophomore T'Keyah Dumoy clocked 11.96 seconds for ninth spot in the women's 100m. She was 17th in the 200m in 24.46. University of Maryland senior Heidi Paul was 24th in the 100m (12.25) and 30th in the 200m (25.25). And another Maryland student, Shawn David finished 15th overall in the men's 400m in 49.78 seconds.

At the SEC (Southeastern Conference)/Big Ten Challenge, in Mississippi, Auburn University's Kai Selvon brushed aside a 2.1 metres per second headwind to win the women's 200m in 23.38 seconds. Mississippi State University athlete Emanuel Mayers struck gold in the men's 400m hurdles in 52.82 seconds. He was fourth in the 110m hurdles, getting to the line in 14.39.

Emmanuel Stewart earned two titles at the LeRoy T.Walker Invitational, in North Carolina. The Morgan State University student won the men's discus with a meet record throw of 51.10m. He also claimed the javelin crown, again with a meet record throw--57.17m.

Another T&T/Morgan State athlete, Jeanelle Ovid topped the women's high jump with a 1.63m clearance. She finished fifth in the long jump (4.79m), seventh in the 100m hurdles (16.13 seconds) and 12th in the shot put (7.60m).

At the UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso) Springtime meet, South Plains College student Janeil Bellille snapped up silver in the women's 100m hurdles in a wind-assisted 13.57 seconds. Her South Plains teammate, Kervin Morgan was fifth in the men's 400m hurdles in 56.07.

Robert Collingwood finished second in the men's shot put, at the Alabama Relays, with a 17.06m effort. His twin brother and University of Southern Mississippi teammate, Richard Collingwood threw the iron ball 14.74m to cop seventh spot. In the discus, Richard (40.22m) was 10th and Robert (37.74m) 13th.

At the Victor Lopez Classic, in Texas, Ashlee Smith seized silver in the women's discus with a 47.79m heave. The McNeese State University student threw 41.23m to finish 15th in the hammer throw.

Jarrin Solomon clocked 47.29 seconds for bronze in the Arizona State Invitational men's 400m event. University of Georgia freshman Hilenn James threw 15.65m to finish fourth in the women's shot put. Zwede Hewitt was eighth in the men's 200m in 21.27 seconds, while his Baylor University teammate, Gavyn Nero finished eighth in the men's 800m in 1:51.11.

Kyron Blaise copped fourth spot in the men's long jump, at the LSU (Louisiana State University) Tiger Relays. The LSU student jumped 7.57m. In the men's 100m dash, Rocky Caruth was 12th overall in 10.96 seconds.

At the Weems Baskin Relays, in South Carolina, Adoniss Jones finished fourth in both the men's 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles events. The Campbell University student clocked 14.38 seconds in the sprint hurdles and 54.60 in the longer race.

In Georgia, Middle Tennessee State University sprinter Kendall Bacchus was fourth in the Yellow Jacket Invitational men's 200m in 21.78 seconds.

At the Raleigh Relays, in North Carolina, Dannielle Davis got to the line in 14.29 seconds to finish second in section one and eighth overall in the women's 100m hurdles.

And Kirlene Roberts was ninth in the women's 100m dash, at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invite, in Tennessee. The Central Michigan University student clocked 12.54 seconds.