...T&T sprint relay teams earn bronze

Sprinter Jereem Richards sped to the silver medal in the boys under-20 200 metre finals at the 2012 Central American and Caribbean Junior (CAC) Track and Field Championships in San Salvador, El Savador on Saturday. The national junior champion clocked 20.98 seconds to take the runner up spot behind Alberto Prado of Cuba (20.87.)  Richards returned to team-up with Jesse Berkley, Jonathan Holder and Ashron Sobers to take bronze in the boys under-20 4X100 metres relay event in a season’s best time of 39.99 seconds as Jamaica struck gold in a meet record time of 39.39 seconds, erasing the mark of 38.77 set by the T&T national team which won the 2010 title. The girls under-18 girls 4X100 metres team also secured the bronze medal. Kayelle Clarke, Tsai-Ann Joseph, Aaliyah Telesford and Zakiya Denoon combined to clock 46.24 to finish behind Jamaica (45.53) and Bahamas (45.72). T&T did not enter teams in the boys under-18 and girls under-20 races.

Jonathan Farinha narrowly missed a medal in the boys under-18 200 metres finals. The Carifta boys under-17 champion finished third in 21.16, a personal best and missed a top three finish by 0.02 seconds. His Abilene Wildcats/QRC team-mate was fifth in 21.49. In the girls under-18 finals Clarke was fifth (24.78) while Telesford was one place behind in sixth (24.82). Marielle Pierre (Burnley/El Dorado East Sec) was edged out of a podium finish taking fourth in the girls under-18 discus finals behind a distance of 37.17 metres. Another T&T thrower Shaiann Charles (D’Abadie Progressive/El Dorado West) was eighth (30.22). Meriah Freeman came up short in the girls under-18 Heptathlon. The D’Abadie Progressive/Five Rivers athlete was fourth with 4065points with Ayana Glasgow (Toco TAFAC/Toco Sec) in sixth (3930). In the girls under-20 Heptathlon Kechelle Douglas (Toco TAFAC/Toco Sec) was fifth (3811.) In action yesterday, Machel Cedenio, Theon Lewis, Jeminise Parris and Reubin Walters qualified for the medal rounds in their events.

Cedenio was the top qualifier in the boys under-18 400m semis. The Presentation College student clocked 48.08 to win heat two. Lewis was the seventh fastest after he won the heat one in 49.22. The finals were contested late yesterday. Parris (Memphis/St Francois Girls’) was the fourth fastest in the girls under 18 100m hurdles crossing the line in 14.02 seconds taking the third spot in heat one. Walters (Memphis/Mucurapo East) is on course for his second medal of the championships clocking the second best time in the boys under 18 110m hurdles semifinals. The 400 metres hurdles silver medallist got to the line in a pb of 13.55 in taking the first heat. The sprint hurdles finals were run off late yesterday.
On the final session of competition last evening Keshorn Walcott (boys under-20 javelin), Shakiel Waithe (boys under-18 javelin), Jevon Joseph (boys under-18 3000m), Chelsea James and Portious Warren (girls under-18 shot put), the boys under 18 and under 20 4X400m teams were in action. T&T was fourth on the medal table at the end of yesterday’s morning session with 13 medals (3 gold,  4 silver and 6 bronze).

Selected results

Day 2-afternoon
Girls Under-18
Discus
4 Marielle Pierre T&T 37.17
8 Shaiann Charles T&T 30.22

200m (Wind: -1.2m/s)
5 Kayelle Clarke T&T 24.78
6 Aaliyah Telesford T&T 24.82

4X100m
1 JAM 45.53
2 BAH 45.72
3 T&T(Kayelle Clarke, Tsai-Anne Joseph, Aaliyah Telesford, Zakiya Denoon) 46.24
Heptathlon
4 Meriah Freeman T&T 4065
6 Ayana Glasgow T&T 3930

Under 20
Heptathlon
5 Kechelle Douglas T&T 3811

Boys Under-18
200m (Wind: -1.5)
4 Jonathan Farinha T&T 21.16
5 Asa Guevara T&T 21.49

Under 20
200m (Wind :-1.2)
2 Jereem Richards T&T 20.98

4X100m
1 JAM 39.39
2 BAH 39.80
3 T&T(Jereem Richards, Jesse Berkley, Ashron Sobers, Jonathan Holder) 39.99
Day three-morning
Boys under 18 400m semis
1 Machel Cedenio T&T 48.08 1h2
7 Theon Lewis T&T 49.22 1h1

Girls under 18 100m hurdles semis
4 Jeminise Parris T&T 14.02 3h1

Boys under 18 110m hurdles semis
2 Reubin Walters T&T 13.5

Medal Table (at the end of Day two)
Position  Country       Total    Gold    Silver  Bronze
1 Jamaica 30 14 10 6
2 Mexico 13 7 5 1
3 Puerto Rico 13 5 6 2
4 D Rep 9 5 1 3
5 T&T 13 3 4 6

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt