T&T field athlete Cleopatra Borel placed fifth in the Women’s Shot Put in her first post-World Championships meet at the Diamong League meet in Weltklasse, Zurich yesterday. Her best throw of 18.92 metres came in the fourth round. Winning was three-time world champion Valarie Adams of New Zealand (20.51), second was Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus with a throw of 20.48 and American Jillian Camarena-Williams (19.64) was third. The trio were the top finishers at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Adams followed by Camarena-Williams and Ostapchuk, respectively.

Borel, in her first appearance at the World Championships finals, placed 13th with a toss of 17.62m. The national record-holder made it into the final round with a throw of 18.95m. At the last Diamond League meet in Aviva London before heading off to Daegu, Borel was fifth with a distance of 18.56m. At the Paris leg on July 8, the 28-year-old established a new national outdoor mark of 19.42m. Today, Richard Thompson will line up in the men’s 100 metres run. In his race the 26-year-old will face reigning  world champion Yohan Blake (Jamaica) and silver and bronze medalists from Daegu, Walter Dix (USA) and Kim Collins (St. Kitts/Nevis). Also in the field is former world record holder Asafa Powell (Jamaica) who is returning from a groin injury which kept him out of the World Champs.

The Beijing Olympic runner up is looking to rebound from his semifinal exit in the men’s 100m in Daegu and the disappointing sixth place finish in the men’s 4x100m relay finals in Daegu. The three time national champion was third in the second semis in 10.20 and did not advance to the grand final.
In the men’s sprint relay finals, Thompson anchored T&T to sixth after third leg runner Aaron Armstrong was impeded by American Darvis Patton. At the 2009 edition in Berlin, Germany, Thompson was fifth in the men’s 100m finals in 9.93 seconds and anchored the national team to silver in a national record of 37.62 seconds. The 2008 NCAA 60/100 champion for Louisiana State University warmed up for Daegu with a national record run of 9.85 seconds and will be seeking to continue on that form. At the last stop of the Diamond League in Crystal Palace men’s dash finals, Thompson was fifth in 10.15 seconds after he ran 10.09 in the heats.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Clayton Clarke