Jun.30.2010

Source: www.guardian.co.tt
Double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson stole the spotlight on the final day of the NAAA/Sagicor National Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo by winning the Men’s 200 metres in a championship record time of 20.37 seconds. The win was the second for Thompson following his successful defence of his 100m title on Saturday. Thompson of Rebirth raced to the gold ahead of the two-time defending champion Rondell Sorillo (La Brea Athletic) 20.62 and the 2009 World Championships 400m bronze medallist, Renny Quow (Zenith), who was third in 20.79 seconds. Thompson said he was more impressed with his win in the half lap than the 100m as he expected to do well at the shorter sprint. “I know that it was going to be tough beating (Rondel) Sorillo after he had an outstanding year on the US Collegiate circuit.

This is the first time I have gone up against Sorillo. “I came into this race running only one 200m for the year (20.86) two months ago. But I have grown a lot since then, gotten a lot stronger and started to work on my speed. After the semis where I ran 20.63 so easily I know it was going to be a good final for me.” Thompson is looking forward to his next 200m race on the weekend (July 3) at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. “That race is against the best 200m sprinters in the world so it is going to be a real test for me. I am running the 200m for strength, not necessarily that I am great 200m runner. I still have a lot of improvement to make in order to be world class in the event. I have the potential to get there. May be next year, may be in 2012, I will try to do the double at the Olympics.” World leading woman sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste took the national 100m crown for the third straight year in 10.98 seconds.

Baptiste clocked her second sub-11 timing for the year and for second straight championships. “I was proud of myself and hope to be consistent and continue my form on the European circuit against the best sprinters in the world,” said the 24th fastest woman sprinter of all-time. Baptiste leaves for the US and then goes to Europe early in July. The former Signal Hill Secondary School student was impressed with the performance of the Michelle Lee Ahye and Kai Selvon, who took gold and silver respectively, in the Girls Under-20 100m. Lee Ahye, the 2010 Carifta champion clocked a personal best time of 11.31 ahead of Selvon who also ran a personal best of 11.41. “I was really happy for Michelle and Kai when I saw the times. That is what we need with the women in the 100m in T&T. That is a big step. To be running 11.32 as a junior is really excellent. I hope Michelle continues to stay on the right part and get better and better each year so that when she get into the women’s division we can bring out the best in each other.” The 2008 World Junior 400m hurdles silver medallist Janeil Bellille was also a double winner taking the women’s 400m hurdles and 400m. In the one lap hurdles, Bellille of Neon Trackers ran 57.77 after a quick start. In the flat race, the 20 year old won in 53.99 seconds.

Bellille indicated that she was satisfied with the double win.“I was hoping to have (2009 World Championships bronze medallist) Josanne Lucas so that I could have gotten that extra pull. I had a fair race.”
Bellille has been plagued with injuries since her silver medallist performance at the World Junior Championships in Poland. “I have trying to make best of it and look forward to the future.” Double national women’s record holder Pilar McShine (Success and Excellence) clocked four minutes, 22.99 seconds to take the national 1500m title.
Mc Shine ran the race alone most of the race. She beat her clubmate Shermin LaSaldo 5:15:30. Mc Shine said it was tough having to run alone but was ready for the task. The 2004 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) junior champion also set national records in the 1500m (4:14:20 and 3000m (9:18:29).

The Psychology Major student credits to performances to hard work.
“Last year I trained as a 800/1500 runner. This year I trained as a 1500/5000 runner.” Mc Shine won the 800m title last year before switching to longer distances in 2010. The 2009 CAC Senior 800 silver medallist is looking forward to the CAC Games in Puerto Rico next month. Eleven time Carifta champion Gavyn Nero (Memphis) completed double wins taking the men’s 800m (1:51:09) and 1500m (3:54:57) while Mark London (Zenith) took the boys U-17 1500m (4:09:51) and 3000m (9:21:26) race. In the field events, Ashlee Smith (D’Abadie Progressive) swept the Girls U-20 shot put/discus double while Shaunna Downey (Burnley) did a same double in the Girls U-17.

RESULTS:
Girls U-17 300m Hurdles
1 Kernesha Spann (Neon Trackers), 43.60;
2 Javanah Moreno (Point Fortin), 48.59;
3 Denisha Williams(Cougars), 50.39.

Boys U-17 400m Hurdles
1 Kuniba Stewart (Zenith), 58.43;
2 Wayne Bonaparte (Point Fortin), 1:03.56;
3 Jameel Joseph (Mayaro Athletics), 1:03.92.

Boys U-20 400m Hurdles
1 Sherwin Jackson(Cougars), 57.28;
2 Kyle Johnson (Air Bon Sonics) - 1:05.9.

Men 400m Hurdles
1 Jehue Gordon(Memphis Pioneers) - 49.96;
2 Emmanuel Mayers (Rebirth) - 50.54;
3 Adrian Mann (Unattached) - 51.67

Women 400m Hurdles
1 Janeil Bellille (Neon Trackers), 57.77
2 Gabriela Cumberbatch (Memphis Pioneers) - 1:02.13

Girls under 17 200m (Wind +0.4m/s)
1 Onika Murray (Quantum) - 24.92
2 Kayelle Clarke (LA Brea Athletics) - 25.37
3 Shirnelle Ettienne (LA Brea Athletics) - 25.65

Boys U-17 200m (Wind +0.3)
1 Ayodele Taffe (Pet. Pap) - 21.97;
2 Machel Cedenio (Quantum) - 22.19
3 Jereem Richards (Point Fortin) - 22.35

Girls U-20 High Jump
1 Jeanelle Ovid (Bishops Anstey) - 1.7
2 Deandra Daniel(Dovers) - 1.65m
3 Carisa Leacock (Bishops Anste) - 1.60m.

Girls U-20 200m (Wind +0.1)
1 Kai Selvon (Air Bon Sonics) - 23.33
2 Kamaria Durant (Simplex) - 24.21
3 Marissa Galen (Air Bon Sonics) - 24.63.

Boys U-20 200m (Wind-0.4)
1 Moriba Morain (Simplex) - 21.21
2 Kristian Joseph (Zenith) - 22.20
3 Eliseo Callender (Eastonians) - 22.72