Olympic bound Kershorn Walcott is among 38 athletes who have been named to represent T&T at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Track and Field Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador from June 29-July 1. Walcott is one of three defending champions, selected by the NAAA according to a release sent on Monday. The Toco Secondary graduate has qualified for the London Olympics in the men’s javelin with 80.11m (B standard-79.50) in winning at the IAAF International Centennial Meet in Havana, Cuba on May 27. The four-time Carifta champ will be seeking to defend his boys under-20 javelin gold after his win at the 2010 CAC Junior champs in Santo Domingo, where he set his first of a series of national record throwing 67.01. Walcott has bettered the qualifying standard of 66.00m at every meet he has participated in 2012 and is also unbeaten in all competitions. Hezekeil Romeo and Kernesha Spann are also going for back to back gold. Romeo (Memphis) will be competing in the boys under 20 shot put. In 2010 the St Anthony's College student won the boys under-17 shot put setting a meet record of 17.46. Spann (Neon Trackers) will do battle in the girls under-20 400m and 400m hurdles and will be hoping to add to her gold in the girls under-17 300m hurdles title which she won two years ago.
Reigning Carifta champions Jonathan Farinha, Kenejah Williams, Chelsea James, Andwuelle Wright and Mark London have also been included in the national contingent. Farinha (Abilene Wildcats) has been slated to run in the boys under-18 200m and 4X400m events and will be looking to add the half lap crown to his Carifta gold in Bermuda in April. His Abilene clubmate Asa Guevara has also been picked to contest the 200m. Williams (Tobago Falcons) got the standards in the boys under-18 shot put and discus and will be going for gold in both events, a feat that eluded the Scarborough Secondary student at the Carifta Games where he triumphed in the boys under-17 discus and was second in the shot put. 2011 Carifta discus winner Shervonne Worrell (Zenith) has also been named for both events. Wiliams' club-mate James will be aiming at taking the girls under-18 shot put to add to the Carifta girls under-17 title she secured. Carifta bronze medallist, Portious Warren (Toco TAFAC), will also line up in the event. Andwuelle will be among the competitors in the boys under-18 long jump after taking his victory in the Carifta under-17 competition.
London (Zenith) will vie for top honours in the boys under-20 800/1500m. The Bishop High student struck gold in the 800m at Carifta and also collected bronze in the 1500m. Former Carifta champs Nicholas Landeau and Machel Cedenio are also in the line up. Landeau will run in the boys under 18 800 and 1500m while Cedenio will vie for gold in the boys under 18 400m and 4X400m events. A notable omission is Shaquille Waithe (Zenith) who won the boys under-18 javelin at the National Junior Championships with a distance of 57.74 getting over the 56.00 standard set by the NAAA. Boys under 18 100m qualifiers Breon Mullings (Memphis) and John Mark Constantine (Concorde) along with girls under 18 long jumper Alisha St Louis (D'Abadie Progressive and boys under 20 400m hurdler Kern Alexis (Neon Trackers) have also not been listed. The age groups have been changed for this year’s Junior Championships to include under 18 and 20 competitors for the first time. In the previous editions the two age groups were under 17 and under 20. Also each country will be allowed to enter three athletes in the multi-events. At the 2010 edition, T&T finished third on the medal standings with 27 medals (12 gold, six silver and nine bronze).
Trinidad and Tobago 2012 CAC Junior Track and Field Team
Under 18
Boys (14)
Jonathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats)—100m/200m/4X400m; Nicholas Douglas (Zenith)—100m/200m/4X400m; Asa Guevara (Abilene Wildcats)—200m/4X400m; Machel Cedenio (Presentation College S'do)—400m/4X400m; Theon Lewis (Petrotrin PAP)—400m/4X400m; Nicholas Landeau (Air Bon Sonics)—800m/1500m; Jevon Joseph (Air Bon Sonics)—1500m/3000m; Reubin Walters(Memphis)—110mH/400mH/4X400m; Andwuelle Wright(Signal Hill Sec)—Long Jump; Shervonne Worrell(Zenith)—Discus, Shot put; Kenejah Williams (Tobago Falcons)-Discus, Shot put; Kevin Roberts (Pt. Fortin New Jets-Octathlon; Victor Isaac (Toco TAFAC)—Octathlon; Kashief King (Pt. Fortin New Jets)—Octathlon
Girls (11)
Aaliyah Telesford (Pt Fortin New Jets)—100m/200m/4X100m; Zakiya Denoon (Zenith—100m/4X100m; Kayelle Clarke(Petrotrin PAP)—100m/200m/4X100m; Jeminise Parris(Memphis)—100mH, 4X100m; Shaiann Charles (D'Abadie Progressive)-Discus; Portious Warren(Toco TAFAC)—Shot put; Chelsea James (Tobago Falcons)-Shot put; Akida Briggs(Toco TAFAC)—Javelin; Chuntal Mohan (Pt. Fortin New Jets)-Javelin; Ayana Glasgow (Toco TAFAC)—Heptathlon; Meriah Freeman(D'Abadie Progressive)—Heptathlon; Tsai Anne Joseph(Memphis)—4X100m
Under 20—Boys
Jonathan Holder (Concorde)—100m/4X100m; Ashron Sobers (Zenith)—100m/4X100m; Jesse Berkley(Simplex)—100m/4X100m; Jereem Richards(Quantum)-200m/4X100m; Brandon Benjamin (Memphis)—400m/400mH/4X100m; Mark London (Zenith)—800m/1500m; Atiba Wright (UWI Sixth Form-Tob)—Long Jump; Steve Waithe (Unattached)—Triple Jump; Hezekeil Romeo (Memphis)—Shot put; Keshorn Walcott (Rebirth)Javelin
Girls
Lisa Wickham (Concorde)—100m; Kernesha Spann (Neon Trackers)—400m/400mH; Kechelle Douglas (Toco TAFAC)—Heptathlon
Officials: Dawn Washington (Manager); Kenny Bermudez (Coach-Sprints); Ian Carter (Coach-Sprints); Wendell Williams (Coach-Jumps), Nadine Hamid (Coach-Throws); John Andalcio (Coach-Combined Events); Joyce Thomas (Coach-Throws); Lucretia Burns (Coach-Distance); Portia St Louis (Coach Jumps); Dr Vern Alleyne (Medical).
-Clayton Clarke
Source: www.guardian.co.tt