Reigning Olympic men’s sprint silver medalists Trinidad and Tobago notched a win ahead of the London Olympics Games in running away with the 4x100m event at the Aviva London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace, yesterday. The team of Rondel Sorillo, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson combined to clock 38.23 to finish ahead of Netherlands (38.70) and Poland (38.78). Great Britain A (38.80), MVP-Jamaica (38.82, Great Britain B (38.94), France (38.95) and St Kitts/Nevis (39.19) all finished behind. T&T last won the event in 2008 in a then national record of 38.00 before taking the historic silver medal in Beijing, China, one month later. The national quartet is now second on the 2012 IAAF Performance listing behind Jamaica’s Racers (37.82) and MVP, also Jamaica, (38.27).
The sprint relay victory was the lone win for local athletes in London as Keston Bledman was ninth in the men’s 100m heats. The national champion clocked 10.27 in heat one to finished fourth but his time relegated the 2005 World Youth bronze medallist to ninth after the second heat was run with only the top eight advancing to the finals. American Ryan Bailey topped Bledman’s heat in 10.06 ahead of Nesta Carter (Jamaica) 10.15 and another American Mike Rodgers (USA) 10.18. Former World Champion Tyson Gay (USA)raced to the gold in the finals in 10.03 ahead of Bailey (10.09), Carter (10.13) and Michael Frater(Jamaica) 10.15. Jamaal James was second in the men’s 800m at the Toronto International Track and Field Games earlier this week. James clocked 1:47.47 but was beaten to the line by Geoff Harris of Canada (1:46.86. American Michael Preble was third 1:47.54.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt