Source: www.guardian.co.tt
By Clayton Clarke
National record holder Quincy Wilson will seek to win T&T’s first medal on the opening day of the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Senior Track and Field Championships at the Estadio Centroamericano in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico later today. Wilson will take to the field in the men’s discus finals set for 5 pm. The 2009 Pan American Junior silver medallist will fancy his chances of mounting the rostrum as he has the third best throw of all the entrants behind Jason Morgan of Jamaica (64.11) and Mexican Mario Cato (59.30).
The former multiple Carifta champion threw a national record of 58.60m to take the Palo Seco Games title in May 22. Wilson will also be aiming to improve on his fifth place finish at the last meet in Havana, Cuba two years ago. The action for local track athletes starts with the heats of the men’s and women’s 400m at 9 am. Reigning World Outdoor Championships bronze medallist Renny Quow is in the men’s race along with Lalonde Gordon while the ladies representatives will be selected from Afiya Walker, Aleena Brooks and Magnolia Howell. Quow will be aiming to win his second CAC gold after his triumph in 2008 in Cali, Colombia. The one lap final will be contested later today.
T&T’s other World Championships bronze medallist Josanne Lucas will contest the women’s 400m hurdles preliminaries and like Quow will be bidding for a second gold after she won the title in 2008. She will be joined by the 2008 World Junior silver medallist Janiel Bellille who has the quickest time in the field (55.80). Reigning World Junior champion Jehue Gordon is this country’s lone entrant in the men’s equivalent and will be up against home town favourite Javier Culson. The finals are also on today. Robert Collingwood lines up in the men’s shot put finals. The 2008 Carifta boys under 20 gold medallist set a personal best of 17.58m earlier in the season and is the 9th best throw in the field. Commonwealth silver medallist Ayanna Alexander will fly the national flag in the women’s triple jump finals.
The 2010 Commonwealth silver medallist is second on the entry list with 13.61m. Alexander’s chances of striking gold were enhance with the absence of the strong Cubans. Keston Bledman and Commonwealth bronze medallist Aaron Armstrong will be seeking to continue T &T’s recent unbeaten run in the men’s 100m.
2009 MEDAL LISTS
Men: Gold: 100-Emmanuel Callendar 10.08 sec; 4x100-38.73 sec; Silver: 200-Rondel Sorillo 20.72 sec; Bronze: 800-Garvyn Nero 1 min 47.51; 400m hurdles Jehue Gordon 49.45; triple jump-Chris Hercules 15.91m;
Women: Silver: 100-Hackett 11.35 sec; 800m-Pilar Mc Shine 2 mins 02:79 sec; -100m hurdles Alesha Barber 13:12 sec ; long jump-Rhonda Watkins 6.47m;
Bronze: 200: Reyare Thomas 23.61 sec; shot put-Cleopatra Borel 17.98m; 4x100-43.75 sec; 4x400 3 mins 35.18 sec.