National men’s 400m champion Lalonde Gordon finally got under the Olympic A standard in the one-lap event clocking 45.02 seconds on the first day of the 2012 USATF Club Championships in Omaha, Nebraska, USA on Friday. Competing for his Zenith Velocity Club, Gordon got under the 45.30 seconds required to compete at the London Games which get underway on July 27 and run until October 12. The 23-year-old finished well ahead of Terrance Livingston (Central Park/USA) 46.61 seconds and Erison Hurtault (Central Park/Dominica) 46.78.
Despite taking the national title at the Sagicor/NGC Open Championships on June 23 in 45.40, short of the A mark which was achieved by second place and third place finishers Renny Quow (44.84) and Deon Lendore (45.13). The time is a new personal best for the 2011 CAC senior Championships 4X400m silver medallist improving his previous best of 45.33 seconds set earlier this year. Gordon was selected as part of this country’s Olympic men’s mile relay team and had until July 8 to get the 45.30 seconds mark. Gordon struck double gold taking the 200-metre finals in 20.63 seconds, improving his personal best time by 0.04 seconds. He topped the heats earlier in the day in 20.78
-Clayton Clarke
Source: www.guardian.co.tt