Team TTO | Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee | teamtto.org

Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 footballers must put aside the distraction of the last week to ensure a place in CONCACAF qualifying, starting today, when they meet Guyana in a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) group match in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Skipper Duane Muckette and his men face Guyana's "Young Jaguars" in their first match of the qualifiers at Victoria Park in Kingstown from 5.30 p.m.

The hosts tackle the other team in Group Four, Suriname, two hours later at the same venue.

The T&T team have had to contend with a lack of international warm-ups due to the ongoing financial woes of the T&T Football Federation (TTFF). And coach Michael McComie was last week replaced with Ross Russell—who was previously the goalkeeping and assistant coach—after being suspended following an alleged incident between McComie and player Alvin Jones.

McComie is under investigation over the matter, when the W Connection player reportedly collapsed during a team session.

Team T&T left for St Vincent on Monday. They have since changed their base after the initial hotel was deemed unsatisfactory.

But despite their hiccups in recent time, coach Ross Russell is happy with his team's mindset ahead of today's opener.

"We are confident going into this first match," Russell told TTFF media officer Shaun Fuentes before yesterday's one-hour training session at the match venue, "but we are aware that the game will be no walk in the park."

"We expect nothing such as an easy time when you come to islands like these to play in competitions. Thankfully we are in a great hotel now and the boys are comfortable and focused on the task ahead."

Russell is wary of the Guyanese team, but his confidence lies in T&T's pre-tournament preparations.

"...We are aware that they have a few players who have been with their senior World Cup team," Russell said. "This means they will have some experience and will pose a decent challenge. But we have been preparing well for three months or so. The guys know they need to bring the energy and the fight into this tournament and we are simply waiting for the kick off with a lot of expectations."

Included in Guyana's squad is Caledonia AIA midfielder Treyon Bobb, as well as Daniel Wilson, Pernell Schultz and Les Charles Crichlow, all of whom have played for the senior "Golden Jaguars".

Trinidad and Tobago will depend on FC Santa Rosa's Muckette and T&T Under-23 player Jomal Williams in midfield, along with national Under-17 winger Akeem Garcia and defender Shannon Gomez.

The more seasoned Shakiel Henry, who skippered Presentation College San Fernando to Secondary Schools Football League South Zone victory last year, is in the T&T forward line.

According to Muckette, the T&T players are "anxious" to come up against Guyana.

Said Muckette: "This is just the first leg of the competition and we know it's a long road ahead, but the key to us doing well is settling in early and getting good results, and producing winning performances from match one.

"Most of the guys here are well experienced and they have been working hard and maintaining a desire to succeed. For me, that is a key ingredient and I'm hoping we can go out and get strong results in all these three matches."

T&T will also face Suriname on Friday and close the group against home team St Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday.

The group winners and the three best second-placed teams from the four groups will head to the CFU final round competition in Jamaica in November.

The qualifiers from there will compete in the CONCACAF round of qualifiers in February for a spot in the 2013 Under-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

GEORGETOWN— Caricom chairman Dr Kenny Anthony has saluted the achievement of Grenadian Kirani James at the London Olympic as a shining example to the region’s youth population. Dr Anthony, the St Lucian Prime Minister, says James’s 400 metre win in record time will serve as an inspiration to young Caribbean athletes eyeing the international stage. The 19-year-old world champion surged home to break Michael Johnson’s All Comers Record of 43.98 seconds and sparked widespread celebrations in Grenada.

“This triumph is all the more exciting given the fact that Mr James is not yet 20 years of age and is therefore a shining example of what the youth of the Region are capable of in today’s world” said Dr. Anthony in a statement released by the Georgetown based Secretariat. “That one so young was able to beat the rest of the world will no doubt give a fillip to those Caribbean youth who wish to compete in any sphere in the global arena”.

James won with a personal best time of 43.94 seconds and a new national record. It was also the first Olympic gold medal won by an athlete within the OECS sub grouping. “This may be Grenada’s first gold medal at the Olympics but given the talent that has recently emerged among its young athletes, there should certainly be more to come” Dr Anthony said. “This victory is one of which the Government and People of Grenada must be justly proud and the Caribbean Community joins in the Member State’s pride”. (CMC)

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Local teenaged trio of Aaron Wilson, Brittany Joseph and Arun Roopnarine left here on Sunday for Guatemala where they will compete at the International Table-Tennis Federation World Junior Circuit Tour until next Monday. Wilson is coming off an impressive showing at the recently concluded Solo National Junior Table-Tennis Championship in which he captured four titles while Joseph, the reigning senior women singles champion picked up three titles, the same as Roopnarine.

In Guatemala, Wilson and Roopnarine will participate in the Under-15 boys team and singles competition while Joseph will compete in the Under-15 girls singles.  Following their participation in Guatemala, which is expected to last one week, the trio will move on to El Salvador for another leg of the competition. Roopnarine and Joseph will then link up with the senior men and women’s teams in Panama on August 20, enroute to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where they will do battle at the Senior Caribbean Championships.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Njisane Phillip has issued a warning to the world's sprint elite, ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"It was hard getting here, but the target was 16. Tell them, watch out in 16. I'm coming."

The 21-year-old Trinidad and Tobago cyclist did his country proud in the 2012 Olympic Games men's sprint event, at the Velodrome, here in London, England. But yesterday, his bid for precious metal ended, Australia's Shane Perkins beating him in two straight rides in the battle for bronze.

Earlier, Phillip was beaten 2-0 by eventual gold medallist Jason Kenny. In the final, the British rider got the better of France's Gregory Bauge 2-0.

Phillip fell just short in his effort to become T&T's first-ever Olympic medallist in the sport of cycling, the reigning Pan American champion finishing fourth.

"I'm really, really happy. It's fourth place at the Olympics. I didn't get the bronze. I really, really wanted to get that medal, but everything takes time."

Only once before had a T&T cyclist finished as high as fourth at the Olympic Games, Gene Samuel missing out on men's kilometre time trial bronze in 1984 by four-hundredths of a second.

"He (Gene) actually messaged me this morning," Phillip told the Express. "He told me best of luck and he supported me all the way. Just to get those older guys to give me that support , just give me that energy, is really, really good…for them to look down and see the potential and give me those great words to keep moving on and raising cycling in Trinidad and Tobago."

Phillip will be back at the Velodrome at five o'clock this morning (T&T time), competing in the opening round of the men's keirin.

At the Olympic Stadium, yesterday, 20-year-old Jehue Gordon finished sixth in the men's 400 metres hurdles final in 48.86 seconds.

Dominican Republic's Felix Sanchez emerged victorious with a 47.63 run, adding London 2012 gold to his 2004 title. American Michael Tinsley snapped up silver in 47.91, while the bronze medal went to Puerto Rico's Javier Culson (48.10). T&T-born American, Kerron Clement (49.15) finished eighth and last.

"I thank God," Gordon told the Express, "for this wonderful talent, and the opportunity to come out and represent the Red, White and Black.

"I learned a lot from this experience. It's not as easy as it looks, to come from an elite bunch to get selected into an elite group for the Olympics, into another elite group for the final. It's a big, big, big opportunity for me, and I'm just thankful for it."

Semoy Hackett and Kai Selvon are both through to the women's 200m semifinal round.

Yesterday, Hackett finished second in heat one in 22.81 seconds to secure an automatic berth in today's semis. Selvon, meanwhile, was fourth in heat four in a personal best 22.85, and progressed as a "fastest loser".

At 3.33 p.m., Hackett faces the starter in the second semifinal heat. And eight minutes later, Selvon will be on show in heat three.

Cleopatra Borel could not contain herself, following the women's shot put qualifying event. She had just missed out on a berth in the London 2012 final by nine centimetres. The tears flowed and flowed, and then flowed some more, the 33-year-old T&T athlete eventually collecting herself for an interview with the Express.

"I feel really disappointed and proud at the same time because I went in there and I fought as hard as I could. This is probably top-three for me in qualifying rounds, in terms of distance and performance, but I just didn't have those couple centimetres to get there."

Borel's best effort in yesterday's qualifying event came in the second round, the three-time Olympian throwing the iron ball 18.36 metres. The effort earned her 13th spot–nine centimetres short of the 18.45m mark achieved by the 12th and last qualifier, Chile's Natalia Duco.

Borel struggled with injuries on the Road to London, battling hard throughout the season to be ready for the Olympic Games.

"I just had one injury after the next–Achilles, knee, hand. I've been trying to deal with them. Actually I'm in the best shape I've been in all season, and I know that I gave it my best because I was consistently around the same distance. In the end, I pulled together and did the best I could."

Borel opened with an 18.26m throw, improved to 18.36m, and then closed off the competition at 18.34m.

"I've struggled this year. My best for the year is 18.69. I worked really hard to get to this point, and it's really disappointing to be in 13th place. But that's just the way it went today," she said, the US-based thrower fighting back more tears."

Borel's battle to stay healthy has left her contemplating her future in the sport.

"I'm proud of the work that I did and the career I've had. I have to talk to the medical team and other folks, because it's really been a struggle and it's been really very painful. I have to talk to them and get their advice on what's best and what's next."

Borel–who finished an impressive 10th on her Olympic debut in 2004–ruled out any possibility of competing at the 2016 Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Nooo. No, no, no, no," she said with a laugh. "I would be 37 in Rio, so no.

"I think I can hold my head high. I've worked really hard for a very long time, over ten years, to represent Trinidad and Tobago, and I hope that everyone is proud and happy of what I've been able to accomplish. I feel as if I've helped the field events grow, and to bring out that awareness that we're not just a track country, but we have field events people as well."

At 5.17 this morning (T&T time), T&T's Wayne Davis II competes in heat two in the opening round of the men's 110m hurdles. His teammate, Mikel Thomas faces the starter at 5.24, in heat three.

And in the 200m, Rondel Sorrillo squares off against France's Christophe Lemaitre at 6.58 a.m., in the second of seven men's 200m first round heats.

By Kwame Laurence

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

THE three brightest young stars in local table tennis will be competing in World Junior Circuit events in the region over the next two weeks.

Brittany Joseph, Aaron Wilson and Arun Roopnarine will be doing battle in the under-15 and 19 divisions in Guatemala from today and in El Salvador from next Monday.

Fourteen-year-olds Joseph and Rooparine will be members of the national senior team in the Caribbean Championships in two weeks time in the Dominican Republic.

All three were in sparkling form during the Solo National Junior Championships.

Wilson captured the under-15 and 18 titles, while Joseph, who was recently crowned national senior champion, also retained her under-15 crown, but finished runner-up in the under-18 division.

Roopnarine picked up the under-21 crown after being dethroned in the under-18 final by the 13-year-old Wilson.

Wilson and Roopnarine have very fond memories of Guatemala as they captured gold medals in the team and doubles events in the under-15 category of the tournament last year.

They then collected silver in doubles and bronze in the team competition the following week in El Salvador.

Joseph won a total of three gold medals in the two tournaments combined last year, but she will have a different partner this time as Maria Lorenzotti of Uruguay is not competing.

By Shammi Kowlessar

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Acting Sport Minister Jack Warner yesterday congratulated Jehue Gordon for topping his personal best and national record at yesterday's semi-final of the men's 400 metre hurdles. Gordon finished with a time of 47.96 seconds, and moving into tomorrow's finals at the London 2012 Olympics.

"We are also extremely proud of Kelly-Ann Baptiste who placed 6th in a highly competitive final of the Women's 100 metre sprint (yesterday) afternoon," he said in a statement.

"Our athletes continue to offer world class performances, putting our twin-island nation in the spotlight and proving that we are among the best. They lift our hearts and unite our spirit every time they take to the field every time they step onto the field, of competition, and for this we thank them. This alone is priceless."

Warner added: "I also wish to remind all that to reach Olympic standard is an accomplishment and honour in itself and it speaks volumes of the talent, ambition, courage and commitment of athletes.

" On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, I wish to send love and best wishes to all our competitors who are chasing gold in London. Your nation is behind you!"

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Kelly-Ann Baptiste produced the best ever Olympic performance by a woman athlete from Trinidad and Tobago, at the Olympic Stadium, here in London, England, yesterday.

But though she understands the significance of her sixth-place finish in the London 2012 women's 100 metres final, the 25-year-old sprinter was very disappointed.

"I know I got to put things in perspective," Baptiste told the Sunday Express. "It's something I wanted to achieve, but I consider myself a better athlete. Making the Olympic final is a great accomplishment and I will not take anything away from that. But it's disappointing to come here and not have my best race."

The World Championship 100m bronze medallist clocked 10.94 seconds, one-tenth of a second slower than her 10.84 national record.

Baptiste, though, was part of a special race, yesterday.

It was the first time in the history of the Olympic Games that as many as six women came in under 11 seconds in a 100m final.

Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce retained her Olympic title with a blistering 10.75 seconds run.

American Carmelita Jeter clocked 10.78 to snap up silver, while bronze went to Fraser-Pryce's teammate, Veronica Campbell-Brown (10.81).

Americans Tianna Madison (10.85) and Allyson Felix (10.89) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

"Everything happens for a reason," said Baptiste, "and I applaud Shelly-Ann Fraser. It just shows what champions are made of. To be able to win successive Olympic titles, that's no easy feat. Hats off to her."

Baptiste could not keep pace with the leaders in the second half of the championship race.

"It wasn't well put together. I'm hugely disappointed, and I'm really trying to contain myself. I know I'm a better athlete."

Drawn on the inside, in lane two, Baptiste did not have a feel for what was happening in the middle of the race.

"I couldn't see anyone. I just tried to run my own race."

In the semi-final round, Baptiste finished third in heat two in 11 seconds flat, and had to wait on the result of heat three to know her fate. She got into the final as a "fastest loser".

Baptiste has been attending to an Achilles injury this season, but insisted it did not affect her here in London.

"Not my performance at the Olympics, but preparations in between. That's not even an excuse because injuries are part of the sport, and that's something you have to handle and be mature about. I would never place that as a reason I didn't perform. It's just that I didn't put it together at the time. Winners and champions find a way to win, and clearly Shelly-Ann did."

Semoy Hackett was unable to reproduce her personal best 11.04 seconds clocking from round one, the T&T sprinter finishing fifth in the opening semifinal heat in 11.26.

"The race wasn't properly distributed," she told the Sunday Express.

"At ten metres I felt I was too low. I felt I was going to fall, so I tried to get up and sprint to catch the pack. It was not as good as I wanted the race to be. I was satisfied with the 11.04 from (Friday), and I was trying to execute this race the same way, but unfortunately I didn't do it.

"I'm trying to make the final for the 200," Hackett continued, "hopefully medal, and then go on to the relay."

Michelle-Lee Ahye also bowed out in the semifinal round of the 100m dash, the 20-year-old T&T athlete finishing eighth in semifinal number three in 11.32 seconds.

"My first Olympics…I'm young. So I'm not really worried. Bigger and better things for Worlds."

Baptiste is also hoping for an improved performance at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

"I have a lot to prove to myself. The battle is within me and my abilities, and what I think I'm capable of. World Championships next year, that's my aim," Baptiste ended. "I'm just going to keep on working harder."

By Kwame Laurence in London

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Clocking the same time in the first two rounds and going into the final with the fifth fastest time is already an achievement.

George Bovell 111 may even have thoughts of retiring after this Olympics and, the task of winning a gold medal may well rest upon this morning’s performance in the 50-metre freestyle event. It was exciting to see Bovell win his heat and produce the fastest time to that point. Even the close second place was good enough to tell us that he is mentally ready for the final moment. Will it be a sleepless night or will coach Anil Roberts do the job of a sports psychologist, and help his charge to exchange his nervousness for determination, something which he has demonstrated during his long and illustrious career.

The morning alarms will be helping T&T to rise early, sit and pray for this country’s flag to fly above the Olympic swimming pool in the same way that Americans Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps have done for their country. Our battery of track and field competitors will also start their bid today. Some claim these are the core events and while the world sits by and admire the speed of people like Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, play a bet on Keston Bledman. No one said that winning the 100 metres will be easy, but it is difficult for all and as we saw in the world Championships, any slip can be a slide for even the best.

On a note of football, it was great to see the two Concacaf qualifiers, Mexico and Honduras, moving into the quarter finals and while some may wish to sympathise with Honduras as they have Brazil as their next opponent, we must recall that the ‘Samba Boys’ are yet to win gold in fooball. They need it badly, but Honduras fought their hearts out to get to London and they will play as well as they can. Hopefully, I shall take a close look at the Mexicans, simply because I believe that they are among the best four football countries in the world today. We shall wait and see, but our premier task today is to see our George Bovell 111 go two better than his Athens bronze. Good luck, George.

By Alvin Corneal

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Chess star Keron Cabralis who withdrew from two major tournaments earlier this year is back in the competetive arena. Cabralis, 16, the Caribbean’s youngest FIDE Master, is a surprise entrant in the four-day Caribbean Chess Carnival which opened at Queen’s Royal College, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Participation in the popular annual tournament by the Under-20 national champion scotched rumours that he had quit the sport out of disenchantment with competition organisers. Chess Sportsman of the Year for 2011, Cabralis has scored more victories in local tournaments than any player his age, having won all national junior titles without losing a single game. According to Edison Raphael, president of the T&T Chess Foundation, the sporting community should be happy to see young Cabralis back in the chess arena and “it seems fitting that he should make his return at the Caribbean Chess Carnival which he won last year in the Under 20 category.

Let us hope that Keron will now forget the past and move on to fulfil his great potential in this sport.” Cabralis is the highest rated player (2128) among the 21 participants in the Under 20 category. Fourteen other players in this group are rated, including Isaac Barayev (2083) New York City high school chess champion, Yu Tien Poon (2036) of Barbados, Vishnu Singh (2023), Ricardo Perez Sanchez (1955) of Venezuela, Orlando Husbands (1948) of Barbados, Jayson Paul (1899), Raphael Guerrero (1867), Rodrigo Hernandez (12806) and Alejandro Larez Hernandez ((1803), Immanuel Kromosoeto (1796) of Suriname. The Under-14 category has attracted most entries, 31, with Under 20 national champion Joshua Johnson heading the list which includes six Venezuelans, three Surinamese and one Barbadian. Among the 18 Under 10s are five Venezuelans and 13 Trinidadians. A total of 26 novices are taking part, all from T&T. The seven-round Chess Carnival, with a prize fund of $20,000, is again sponsored by First Citizens Asset Management Ltd.

www.guardian.co.tt

“I was born ready.” These were the words of T&T hurdler Jehue Gordon ahead of the start of today’s track and field at the Olympic Games, here in London, England. The 20-year-old oozed confidence yesterday, not intimidated by the thought of facing some 53 other hurdlers who will be battling for a spot in the semifinals of the men’s 400 metres hurdles. Gordon, along with triple-jumper Ayanna Alexander, and sprinters Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Michelle Lee Ahye, Semoy Hackett and Kai Selvon will be in action today at the Olympic Stadium. Alexander will be first in action in group B of the women’s triple-jump starting at 10.25 am (5.25 am). She will have to be at her best to be among the top 12 from some 35 jumpers who will be looking for a place in the final round on Sunday.

Some 50 minutes later, Gordon, who has a personal best time of 48.26 seconds, will line-up, looking to get into the semi,final round on Sunday at 7 pm (2 pm T&T time). He will run in heat five. Gordon had only good things to say about his experience so far at his first Olympic Games. “Everybody here is supporting each other 100 per cent. We are feeling as one; feeling as a team. Everybody is here just to give their best,” said Gordon. Gordon feels that he and his teammates are sometimes underestimated and that will be a plus in their efforts to get precious metal for T&T. “Nobody really takes T&T seriously. That is what is giving us the edge right now. They are expecting the US and Great Britain, the more powerful countries, to dominate but we are not going down without a fight,” declared Gordon. In the evening session, the quickest women of T&T will be on show when they meet the rest of the world in the 100m heats, starting at 7.05 pm (2.05 pm). National champion, Baptiste will lead the quartet aiming for nothing less than semifinal spots which are scheduled for 7.35 pm (2.35 pm) tomorrow. This is Hackett’s second Olympic Games and she’s banking on reaching further than the last edition.

“The first time I competed at Olympics, I was 17-years-old, and now I am 23. I am more matured and understanding of the sport. I think I will do much better than I did a few years go,” stated Hackett. Manager of the track and field team Dexter Voisin is comfortable with his athletes and says they are ready. “We’re ready to go. We have been here about three weeks. We started off with a two-week camp in Wales. That camp was very successful,” said Voisin. He said the athletes bonded and fine-tuned. “We were able to practice baton passing—something that was never done before because most of the athletes concentrated on their individual events. So it was useful.”  Over in Weymouth and Portland, sailor Andrew Lewis will feel revived after his day off yesterday and ready to battle the wind and water in races seven and eight in the men’s laser event. Lewis is currently in 42nd place and will be aiming to complete a perfect race to move up the standing, to get on course to make it to the medal round on Monday.

By Rachael Thompson-king

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Kelly-Ann Baptiste is hoping to become the first female athlete from Trinidad and Tobago to earn Olympic precious metal.

The 25-year-old track star will open her bid for a 100 metres medal this afternoon, at the Olympic Stadium, here in London, England. The first of seven heats is scheduled for 2.05 p.m. (T&T time). The draw, however, will not be made until the completion of the preliminary round, which will feature the slower women entered in the event.

Baptiste and her T&T teammates, Semoy Hackett and Michelle-Lee Ahye, are automatically through to the first round proper.

Baptiste already has a place in the history books, the Plymouth, Tobago lass bagging 100m bronze at the World Championships, in Daegu, Korea, last year, to become the first female T&T sprinter to earn a medal at a major senior global meet.

And Baptiste is only the second female athlete from this country to secure a top-three finish at that level, following in the footsteps of 2009 World Championship 400m hurdles bronze medallist Josanne Lucas.

Ayanna Alexander will be the first T&T track and field athlete to see action. She competes in the 5.25 a.m. (T&T time) women's triple jump qualifying competition. The 30-year-old athlete will jump in Group B, and needs to improve on her 14.15m national record to guarantee a berth in Sunday's final. The automatic mark is 14.40m.

Jehue Gordon has been drawn way out in lane nine in the fifth of six men's 400m hurdles first round heats. The heat five field also includes two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor (lane three), of the United States, South Africa's LJ Van Zyl (lane six) and Greek hurdler Periklis Iakovakis (lane eight).

The top three finishers in each heat will advance automatically to the semi-final round.

Taylor, Van Zyl and Iakovakis are all sub-48 one-lap hurdlers, while Gordon's personal best is 48.26 seconds, the time he produced in finishing fourth at the 2009 World Championships, in Berlin, Germany, as a 17-year-old.

However, of the eight men in the race, only Taylor and Gordon have dived under 49 seconds this season. Gordon's best 2012 clocking to date is 48.78 seconds, while Taylor's is 48.43.

For 20-year-old Gordon, facing the starter at the Olympics is a new experience.

Richard "Torpedo" Thompson, on the other hand, has been there, done that. At the 2008 Games, in Beijing, China, the T&T sprint star seized silver in the men's 100m final in 9.89 seconds, finishing second to Jamaica's Usain Bolt (9.69).

Thompson earned his second Olympic medal in the 4x100m relay, anchoring T&T to second spot, behind Jamaica.

In 2012, however, Thompson has had his challenges, battling to overcome an injury and some indifferent form on the circuit. Of the nine legal sub-10 runs he has produced in his career, only one has come this season—9.96 seconds in finishing second to Keston Bledman (9.86) at the National Open Championships.

"Being under the radar," Thompson told the Express, "is okay with me. It allows me to focus on the task at hand and not have to worry about outside distractions.

"Final preparations," he continued, "have been going well. All the hard work is behind me now. It's just a matter of staying sharp and getting sufficient rest, so I can perform at a high level. I feel really good. I'm just thankful to God to come into the meet confident about my health and lead-up preparations."

Tomorrow morning (T&T time), the 27-year-old athlete will open his bid for a second Olympic Games 100m medal.

"This is not going to be an easy task, but I have prepared my best and I think a medal is a realistic goal for me.

"The support from T&T has been overwhelming—the fans, other athletes, soca artistes and of course family and friends have truly extended their full support," Thompson ended. "That in itself is enough inspiration for me."

T&T cyclist Njisane Phillip will also be on show tomorrow morning. The 21-year-old Olympic debutant will do battle in the flying 200m—the qualifying event for the men's sprint.

"I don't want to be here," Phillip told the Express, "and say I'm just here for the experience. I actually want to do well. The aim is to get the gold medal, and just have fun doing it. There's definitely a possibility of medalling in the sprint event and the keirin event, but I know I can't make any mistakes."

Phillip is enjoying the Olympic experience.

"It feels great. Just being in the whole atmosphere is just a crazy feeling. It's not like Commonwealth or Pan Ams or CAC. It's a whole other level. You have the best of the best here. It's a great feeling."

Another Olympic debutant, sailor Andrew Lewis, will be back on the water today, following yesterday's rest day in the men's Laser class event.

Lewis is 42nd after six races, with a net score of 195.

At seven a.m. (T&T time), in Dorset, he will sail in race seven on the Weymouth Nothe course. And then, at 8.40, he will be on the Weymouth Harbour course, competing in race eight.

By Kwame Laurence

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

The athletic section of the London Olympics is due to start tomorrow. What are T&T’s chances? Ato Jabari Boldon may have put on some weight, particularly around his waist, but he has not allowed this excess, or his increasingly grey look to stop him from talking a good talk. No wonder the NBC Network has engaged his services for yet another Olympics.

We chatted yesterday about T&T’s medal chances which Boldon described as good. “This team has a very good chance of winning some medals. It is one of the best balanced teams I have seen in a long time.” Boldon had an opportunity to meet with the T&T contingent during the pre-Olympic camp in Wales. He said he got a positive vibe from the group.

“Jehue Gordon has that look, I know it. He just seems to have that expression, that belief. He will surprise some people. He stood out. He has already decided in his mind the time he wants to achieve. He has gone so far as to write up times all over mirrors, walls in his room, his shoes. He is clearly showing that he is mentally focussed and understands what is needed both physically and mentally,” noted the four time Olympic medallist. Boldon expects the women’s 4x100 metres team to break into the medals.  “They should have secured a medal in the past. This is their chance. If the men’s 4x100 metres team don’t medal, they would be very disappointed as would all of us. They have a very good team,” he said. Boldon described Keston Bledman and Richard Thompson as competitive guys who will go out hard: “But it will not be easy with so much competition.”

He warned against writing off Kelly Ann Baptiste: “A lot of people are writing her off because of her last few races. But she has an achilles problem, so she had to nurse herself through the last couple of weeks, so if she is at her best, anything can happen.” Boldon, who is coaching both athletes and professional footballers in the NFL in Florida, said: “If I go to sleep today and wake up in two weeks time and someone told me T&T won three medals, I would not be surprised. That is how much I am expecting it to happen,” said Boldon. He suggested a good performance for T&T could signal a renewal of interest in the sports: “It would be a good way to encourage youngsters to come forward.” For his part, Boldon says he feels he can still run a 100 metres but instead of 9.86 (his pb), he feels he can do 10.50. Some six months prior to the last Games, Boldon predicted a 100 metres win for Usain Bolt and second for Richard Thompson. He was right. Three medals for T&T this time. Let’s hope that once more, he is on target.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Andrew Lewis gave an improved showing in the fifth race of the Olympic Games men's Laser class event, in Dorset, England, yesterday.

However, the Trinidad and Tobago sailor missed out on a golden opportunity for significant upward movement on the overall standings when he failed to capitalise on a good start in race six, eventually finishing 47th in a field of 49. Instead, he gained just two places, moving from 44th to 42nd.

Lewis ended the day with a total of 242 points, but had his worst score—the 47 in yesterday's sixth race—deducted, for a net score of 195.

Lewis was 28th in race five, on the Weymouth Bay West course. He was actually 17th early on, but slipped to 29th, before earning a one-spot promotion following the disqualification of Greek sailor Vagelis Himonas.

And in race six, on the same course, Lewis again started well, but 12th spot turned into 17th, 22nd, 27th and then 31st. Had he remained 31st, Lewis would have jumped to 36th overall. However, his vessel capsized, the 22-year-old sailor losing valuable time and finishing 47th in the race.

Cypriot Pavlos Kontides was second and fourth in yesterday's races to claim the top spot from Australia's five-time world champion Tom Slingsby. Kontides has 12 net points, for a narrow one-point lead on Slingsby (13). Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic (19) is third.

Following the rest day, today, Laser class action resumes tomorrow with races seven and eight, on the Weymouth Nothe and Weymouth Harbour courses, respectively.

George Bovell opens his 50 metres freestyle medal bid at 5.11 this morning (T&T time), at the Aquatics Centre here in London, in the sixth of eight heats. The T&T swimmer has been drawn in lane three.

Of the eight men swimming in heat six, Bovell has the third fastest qualifying time—21.89 seconds. American Anthony Ervin is the fastest at 21.60, while Russia's Andrey Grechin is second best with a 21.82 swim.

Bovell is ninth fastest overall, and has a genuine shot at advancing to tomorrow's eight-man final. His first goal, though, is to secure a lane in the 2.32 p.m. (T&T time) semi-final round. The top 16 men in the heats will progress to the semis.

Of the 30 athletes representing T&T at the London Games, nine are women. All nine are on the track and field team. Four of them will see action tomorrow, at the Olympic Stadium.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett and Michelle-Lee Ahye do battle in the 100m dash, and Ayanna Alexander competes in the triple jump qualifying competition.

Ahye, whose fastest time in the 100m is 11.19 seconds, told the Express she is targetting a new personal best and a top-three finish, here in London.

"From since I left the training camp (in Wales), I just blanked out everything. I said 'Michelle, I came here to compete'. I'm ready to be on that podium, for sure."

Ahye will run in the 4x100m as well. The sprint relay squad also includes Baptiste, Hackett, Kai Selvon, Reyare Thomas and Sparkle McKnight.

"Our expectation," Thomas told the Express, "is to go out there and at least win a medal. If it's gold, silver or bronze, once we're in the top three, that's what we're looking for."

McKnight was hoping to compete in the individual 400m, here in London. At the National Championships, she won the event in 52.44 seconds, missing out on the 52.35 "B" standard by nine-hundredths of a second.

"I'm disappointed about that, but I'm coming out here and looking at everybody performing. It's going to change my mentality, and hopefully at the next Olympics I would be there for sure representing in the 400 for the ladies."

Janeil Bellille flies the flag for T&T in the women's 400m hurdles. She will be in action on Sunday, in the opening round of the event.

"Basically, I'm trying to make it through the rounds. That's the most important thing. And once I'm able to get through the rounds and make it to the final, I could go all out.

"I'm just trying to keep focused," Bellille continued. "Around here, there are lots of distractions."

T&T will have two representatives in the men's 110m hurdles—national champion Wayne Davis II and Mikel Thomas. Round one is scheduled for next Tuesday, with the semis and final taking place on Wednesday.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Thomas made it to the second round.

"I definitely want to exceed what we've done last time," Thomas told the Express. "I made it two rounds last time, and there's only three this time. I'm hoping and praying and putting in the work necessary to make the final. It's all about executing it.

"The atmosphere," the sprint hurdler continued, "is totally different, compared to Beijing. Not only because it's an English-speaking country and we can actually communicate more, but just the vibe and what London has done to put on these Games. They have done an excellent job. The feeling, the atmosphere is great."

By Kwame Laurence

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com