Source: www.guardian.co.tt
By: Clayton Clarke
Michelle Lee-Ahye and Elton Walcott struck gold for Trinidad and Tobago at last weekend’s Pan American Junior Track and Field Championships in Miramar, Florida, USA. Lee-Ahye raced to gold in the women’s 100m to secure this country’s first ever women’s track gold (and second overall) at the hemispherical meet. The 19-year-old sprinter clocked a World Championships qualifying time of 11.25 seconds and is expected to join Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett as this country’s representatives in the women’s 100m a the World Athletic Championships in Daegu, South Korea in August. Walcott leaped to glory in the men’s triple jump with a wind-assisted distance of 16.51 metres. The four-time Carifta champion opening his series with national junior record of 16.43 in the first round to add to the previous mark he set at the Tobago Falcons Games on April 16. Both youngsters have been beset with injuries in their quest for glory. Concorde’s Lee-Ahye came on the local scene in 2006 and went on to capture three Carifta sprint titles. She first took the girls Under-17 100m gold in Turks and Caicos in 2007 and defended her crown one year later in St Kitts/Nevis.
Her injury problem then started when she was unable to competed in the 200 finals at both meets after impressing in the heats. At the 2009 Carifta Championships in St Lucia injury prevented the former Tranquility Secondary student from making it to the start line. However, she recovered to take the girls Under-20 gold in Cayman Islands the following year. The speedster was denied a chance to represent the Red, White and Black at the World Junior Championships in 2008 and 2010 again due to injury.
In 2011 she was going for a fourth gold but lost out to Antonique Strachan of the Bahamas in Montego Bay Jamaica but the Ken Barton/Clayton Walkes coached athlete finally came through to capture T&T first female Pan Am Junior sprint title and exact revenge on the Bahamian. Lee-Ahye told T&T Guardian on the team’s return that she went into the race confident and positive. She said she was exhausted after her effort because it was hot and dry in Miramar. The shy lass advanced to the finals with a wind-assisted time of 11.15 which left her shocked. As she approached the line for the gold medal race Lee-Ahye said she tried to remain positive.
After she crossed the line in 11.25 seconds, the 2011 CAC Championships relay gold medallist added she felt great and all her teammates were happy for her. Walcott said the win topped off a good season for him. “It was an excellent outing for me. I am pleased that I could end my season on a high.” The Toco jumper also said his triumph came despite having missed crucial training earlier in the season because of injuries. “I think it is a season any athlete would have. There are the ups and downs and you have to try your best and overcome the obstacles one by one as they come along.” The 2009 World Youth Championships fourth-place finisher explained that he sustained an injury again in his Pan Am win. “My mindset is focus on recovery as I sustained an injury during the competition. “So I am just looking to get over that and resume training in a couple of months. Moving on to the seniors is another challenge but I am looking forward to it.”