…Thompson dethroned, but still confident
Newly crowned men’s 100m national champion Keston Bledman attributed his close relationship with God and hard training in winning the event final at the NAAA Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and Field Championship at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday night. Bledman just missed out on equalling the national record, set by Richard Thompson at last year’s Championships, by one-hundredth of a second when he blazed to glory in a personal best of 9.86 seconds, which is the fifth fastest time for 2012. Bledman signalled a clear warning that he was walking away with nothing less than a victory, in producing his fastest time ever in a semifinal in 10.04 seconds.
Speaking to the T&T Guardian about his performances for the day, Bledman said he came in confident about his abilities and to put his best foot forward, “I planned on not taking anything easy. I came out here confident and…to put my best foot forward. (I’ve made some) good times. Today is the fastest that I’ve ever run in a semifinal so I’m very proud of that. I said to myself ‘I trained hard and I have to come and deliver’. I thank God for everything, I talk to Him everyday and every night. I just go out there and do what He told me to do.” Asked if he was perturbed by the intermittent rainy weather, the 24-year-old said he came prepared to brave any kind of weather, “That’s nature, that’s God’s work, you can’t really stop that. All you could do is pray and ask God to guide you through and come through without any injury. I came prepared for any kind of weather.”
Bledman has been enjoying a superb season, having dipped under ten seconds multiple times for the year already, and plans on continuing his fine form as he gears up for the London Games. Defending and three-time national 100m champ, Richard “Torpedo” Thompson, had to settle for second with his 9.96 time. The 2008 double Olympic silver medallist congratulated his dethroner and said that although he would have liked to retain his title, he still found satisfaction in making his first sub ten clocking for the season. “The winner was worthy. He is a great competitor and has a lot talent. He ran a great race today and I am not surprised of the way he ran. I know there were a lot of people on the outside who doubted (me) but, I have faith in my abilities and also I have faith in God. I came second but I wanted to defend my title. (However) I am very pleased with my time, it being my first sub ten for the season.”
The “Torpedo”, who has been struggling to get under the ten-second barrier this year, told reporters that he knows he still has what it takes to give a good showing at the Olympics, “I am confident because once you do it once, you can do it again. I have faith in my abilities. I feel I can run with anyone and beat anyone regardless of what I have done for the year (so far).” A new champion was also crowned in the men’s 400m, as Lalonde Gordon crossed the finish line in 45.40 seconds to steal the title from Renny Quow (45.60). Speaking after his victory, Gordon told the T&T Guardian that the win felt great. Asked if he ever thought he would achieve such a feat, the 23-year-old answered: “Yes. I’ve been training hard for the last few months, I just think I need to train a little more again. It wasn’t my best (time)…but I’m still happy with it.” Deon Lendore (45.74) and Jarrin Solomon (45.88) secured third and fourth in the event. The top four 400m finishers later combined their speed and endurance skills to set a new national record of 3:00.45 in the 4x400m relay on the following and final day of the national championships. Gordon, Quow, Solomon along with Jereem Richards formed T&T’s 4x400m relay team that won bronze at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in March.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt