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

After two extremely successful days, T&T junior cyclists had a subdued performance on yesterday’s third day of the Pan American Junior Cycling Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Firstly, the pair of Jody Goodridge (13.53 seconds) and Aziza Browne (13.60 seconds, a personal best) were 13th and 14th respectively in the Flying 200m and did not make the quarterfinal as one of the top eight. Meanwhile, Akil Campbell was not able to mount the podium in the grueling 25km points race, in which cyclists circled the 250m track a total of 100 times.

On Tuesday, Browne and Goodridge secured gold when they pedalled to victory in the women’s team sprint in 37.16 seconds, to become only the second local women’s team to win a gold medal at an international competition. Colombia was second in 37.20 while Guatemala took bronze in 38.14. In the qualifying stages, the TT women advanced with the fastest qualifying time of 37.17 seconds ahead of Colombia (37.58), Mexico (38.57), Guatemala (38.57), Canada (38.76), Brazil (38.78) and Ecuador (39.28). T&T’s Justin Roberts reached the quarterfinals of the Men’s Flying 200m before he was eliminated by a Colombian in three rides.

Roberts was then forced to compete in the fifth to eighth place ride-off but due to injuries sustained in an earlier fall, he did not take up his position and was replaced by teammate Mahabir to contest the keirin event today. In the earlier stages of the Flying 200m, Roberts had advanced with the second fastest qualifying time of 10.81s but he fell in Heat Two after being closed down by a Colombian cyclist, who was later disqualified for dangerous and unsportman-like antics. Roberts was allowed a re-ride in which he took full advantage. Finishing ahead of Roberts in the qualifiers were Canada (10.74s) and Colombia (10.82s).

Countrymen, Kwesi Browne and Samuel Mahabir did not achieve times in their rides. On Monday, the local team of Browne, Mahabir and Roberts pedalled to gold in the men’s sprint in 47.98 to beat Argentina and Mexico in silver and bronze medal places. Goodridge got bronze in the women’s 500m time trial in 37.86 seconds, a new national record in both the local Junior and Senior women’s category while Browne was eighth in 39.35. Colombian Martha Bayona won gold in 37.04 and Aline Taime of Mexico, silver in 37.627.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

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Ayanna Alexander will be seeking to win back-to-back titles at this year’s Penn Relays which get under way at Franklyn Field Stadium, Pennsylvania, USA later today. In 2011, Alexander captured the Olympic Development Women triple jump gold medal with a distance of 13.47m (+2.3). The reigning CAC senior champion will compete on Saturday, the final day of action. Inform sprinter Keston Bledman sped to victory in last year’s Olympic Development men 100m but has not confirmed whether he will defend his title.


Former Penn Relays winner Mikel Thomas will aim to reclaim the Olympic Development men’s 110m hurdles crown he last won in 2010. Thomas enters the event setting a personal best of 13.48 seconds (Olympic qualifying) last month. Queen’s Royal College will be looking to hold on to their High School Open 4x400m title. With Carifta boys Under-17 200m champion Jonathan Farinha in the line up along with two-time Carifta medallist Asa Guevara—who both were on last year’s winning team—the Royalians will be confident of victory. Kernesha Spann (St Francois Girls) will be focused on getting among the medals in the High Schools girls 400m hurdles race. The Carifta silver medallist finished fourth at year’s meet in 1.00.65. Brandon Benjamin (St Augustine Secondary) is down to contest the High Schools Boys one lap hurdles event.


The highlight of the meet for Trinidad and Tobago will be in the US versus the World relays where Richard Thompson will lead the men’s 4x100m team. The reigning Olympic silver-medallist outfit will be aiming at improving on their fourth place finish last year and also the disappointment of failing to medal at the World Championships in South Korea later in the year. The NAAA has named Marc Burns, Emmanuel Calendar, Bledman and Rondell Sorillo as members of the 4x100 line up.

Trinidad and Tobago will also compete in the women’s 4x100 and men’s 4x400m events. Michelle Lee Ahye, who recently sped to a pb and Olympic qualifying time of 11.19, Semoy Hackett, Kai Selvon, Reyare Thomas and Aleesha Barber will make up the team. The final four of men’s 4x400m will be chosen from Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Stann Waithe. Solomon, Gordon and Richards were members of T&T’s World indoor bronze 4x4 medal team.

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Emilie Ramsahai was elected president of the Chaguaramas Golf Club (CGC) last weekend, becoming the first woman to hold the post. Ramsahai replaces Leslie St Louis, who was successfully voted in as the club’s Secretary, to become the first woman to lead the CGC since its inception in 1974.
The new president was humbled by her elevation to office at the club.

“I appreciate the honour that the members of the Chaguaramas Golf Club have conferred on me,” Ramsahai said. “I would like to thank the past executive  of the club for their hard work and congratulate the new executive for offering up their time for the club.” Also elected to the executive was Derek Lutchman, son of the late Hoerman Cup veteran Carlton Lutchman.

The full CGC executive for the 2012-2013 term is as follows: Emilie Ramsahai (president), Derek Lutchman (vice-president), Kathleen Alleyne (secretary), Leslie St Louis (secretary), Christine McShine-Griffin (assistant secretary), Sean Alonzo (men’s captain), Kim Campbell (ladies’ captain), Noel Ellias Youth Coordinator), and Vidia S Ramphal (public relations officer). Keith Morren, Gerard “Tex” Texiera, Andrew “Joe” Renne and Victor Daniel were elected as committee members, while the trustees are Geoffrey Frankson and Anand Singh.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Former national coach Bertille St Clair, will assist the Football Federation in its talent identification program, for National Under-20 and Under-16 players, in the sister isle of Tobago over the next few weeks. Some of the country’s past national players and coaches have already began assessing player at the Ato Boldon Stadium and St Clair, who guided this country to the 1991 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Portugal, will take charge in Tobago.
The sessions will take place at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet and the Cyd Gray Complex, Roxborough at dates to be announced.

T&T will enter the Caribbean leg of the Under-20 qualifiers, from July 23-31 in a group hosted by St Vincent/Grenadines along with Suriname and Guyana. The winners of the four preliminary groups and the best second placed team will advance to the final CFU round in Jamaica, from November 3-11, 2012.

The Concacaf final round takes place in Puebla, Mexico from February 18-March 2, 2013. The Caribbean will have five berths in the final 12-nation round, from which four will qualify for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Turkey. Mexico, Canada and USA are automatic qualifiers to the Concacaf final round. Caribbean qualifying for the Under-17s will be played from July 3-10 with Trinidad hosting one of the groups, which will see them come up against Suriname, British Virgin Islands and Guyana. The group winner of the five groups and the best second placed team will advance to the final CFU round in August.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Nolan Tash has retained his position as captain of a 12-member T&T senior men’s volleyball team to compete at the North America, Central America and the Caribbean Confederation (Norceca) Men’s Continental Olympic Qualifiers. The one-week eight-team tournament which will qualify one team to the London Olympics takes place from May 7-12 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. In addition to Tash, the other experienced players in the T&T squad includes long-serving national players Sean Morrison, Saleem Ali, Ryan Mahadeo, Ryan Stewart, Kevin Nimrod, Jessel Davis and Portugal-based professional Marc-Anthony Honore who is attached to SL Benfica. Honore, who helped his club to a 14th Portugese Cup recently, is expected to be involved in A-1 Division Championship playoff matches on April 28 and May 1. Once his team wins those two matches he will meet up with the T&T team in Los Angeles prior to the start of the tournament.

However, should Benfica be forced into a third and deciding match in the best-of-three series on May 5, Honore will arrive a day later, ahead of T&T’s opener. Honore is also expected to secure his European Residency VISA, which will allow him easy re-entry into Portugal once he joins up with the T&T squad. In California, T&T, ranked sixth in Norceca and 33rd in the world, has been grouped with defending Olympic champion USA, Mexico and Costa Rica in Pool B while Pool A comprises Cuba, Canada, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. The T&T squad, the reigning Caribbean champions last competed at this stage of the Olympic qualifiers four years ago in Puerto Rico but failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in China. Dickson and his squad which includes two reserves in Tevin Joseph and Kevin Amarali will conduct six more training sessions before leaving for USA. The sessions continue tomorrow at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua followed by Friday, Saturday and Tuesday at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas and then again next Thursday at Tacarigua.

Team
T&T Olympic men training squad: Sean Morrison, Nolan Tash (captain), Marc-Anthony Honore, Ryan Mahadeo, Jessel Davis, Kevin Nimrod,  Saleem Ali, Russell Pena,  Joshua Mohammed, Ryan Stewart, Simon Blake, Akim Bushe.
Reserves: Kevin Amarali (stand-by for Russell Pena), Tevin Joseph (stand-by for Marc-Anthony Honore)

-Nigel Simon

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Carifta champion and record holder Keshorn Walcott is among four field athletes  in Cuba on a training camp. Keshorn, his elder brother Elton, Hezekeil Romeo and Quincy Wilson left for Cuba on April 17 and are due to return on May 13.  The quartet is accompanied by Cuban coach Ishmael Lopez who has been working with Keshorn, Romeo and Wilson. At this year’s Carifta Games, Keshorn took his third straight boys under 20 javelin title in a national and CAC Junior record of 77.59m.


Elton is a three-time Carifta boys under 20 triple jump champion and the 2011 Pan American Junior gold medallist. The Toco born jumper is the national junior record holder (16.43m). Wilson is also a multiple Carifta champion and is the 2011 CAC Championships bronze medallist/2009 Pan American junior silver discus medallist and national senior (59.60) and junior record holder (62.95).  Romeo earned bronze at this year’s Carifta Games in the boys under 20 shot put and is the national youth (under 18) record holder (19.68).  The Diego Martin Central/ St Anthony student was fifth in the boys shot put finals at the 2011 World Youth Championships in France.The Walcotts and Wilson are members of Rebirth Athletic Club while Romeo competes for Memphis Pioneers.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Portugal-based professional volleyballer Marc-Anthony Honore is expected to be available for to represent T&T at the North America, Central America and the Caribbean Confederation (Norceca) Men’s Continental Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The one-week tournament will be held from May 7-12 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Honore’s availability was confirmed by national senior and Under-23 men’s coach, Gideon Dickson when contacted yesterday. The lanky Honore who plays the middle-blocker position recently helped SL Benfica to its 14th Portuguese Cup with a 21-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-15 victory over AA Espinho recently and it was thought he may be forced to miss the Olympic qualifiers due to club commitments. However, Dickson said that issue has now been sorted out and Honore be included in the T&T team to play its Pool B matches against reigning Olympic champion USA, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Pool A comprises Cuba, Canada, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. The tournament winner will qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London representing the Norceca. Dickson added, “Honore’s club (Benfica) has qualified for the Champion ship playoffs in Portugal  and the first two matches are scheduled for April 28 and May 1. “If his team sweeps the best-of-three series he will link up with the T&T team by May 3, but if they are taken to a third and final match (May 5) he will arrive on May 6 or the day of the opening match against the Americans. The T&T coach also noted that Honore is also awaiting the regularisation of his European Residency VISA, which will allow him easy entry back into Portugal. “He is expected to get confirmation on his VISA status very soon so we are keeping our fingers cross and looking forward to him joining the team in Los Angeles.

-Nigel Simon

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

At the time that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established, accusations of weak leadership and the lack of the required political will to take firm action on doping control were being made from various quarters. These accusations or perceptions presented a challenge to the IOC’s legitimacy and credibility since the organisation, some felt, did not want to tackle the problem head on. Cynics claimed the IOC leadership did not want to acknowledge that doping was an issue as the problem carried with it sport politics and commercial undertones. In other words, the image of the IOC and the Olympic Games was more important than facing up to the truth. To combat the perception, Juan Antonio Samaranch and the IOC convened a world conference on doping in sport. Coming out of that conference, WADA was formed with a mandate to co-ordinate drug testing.  The road to clean sport is a complex interdependence. There has to be rules but not at the expense of other rules. WADA exists in a symbiotic relationship with the sport stakeholders and cannot exist in a vacuum because its actions have profound effects.

That WADA can challenge the autonomy of the British Olympic Association (BOA), in defiance of the Olympic Charter is a plight that deserves little sympathy as it is the result of a leadership failure on the part of the IOC. Those who understand the cancer that is cheating and doping know that zero tolerance is a key weapon if the playing field is to be kept level for the clean athletes. Gray areas and legal technicalities are a win for cheaters. In the early years the IOC needed to be protected from itself and from accusations of hypocrisy and a lack of political will on the issue of doping. WADA was convenient and some will argue necessary. In 2004 when the IOC included in the Olympic Charter a mandate that all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) must adopt and implement the WADA code, did the IOC executive board and its legal experts consider the possible contradictions and potential issues?  

Rule 27 (3) of the Olympic Charter  states that the NOCs have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games. Rule 27 (5) says that NOCs shall not associate themselves with any activity which would be in contradiction with the Olympic Charter and Rule 27 (6) is very clear that NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious or economic pressures which may prevent them from complying with the Olympic Charter. But book sense is not common sense. If WADA can order a NOC to select an athlete found guilty of intentional cheating then why can’t a government or a sponsor dictate to a NOC who to select ? Now that the principle of NOC autonomy may be broken, where will it end?

The IOC got the Olympic movement into this situation in the first place. They must now clarify the matter because there are consequences when leadership is delegated.  One—but not the only one—threat to the credibility, image and sustainability of the Olympic Games as a premier event is doping and dopers. One of the fundamental objectives of the WADA code is to protect the fundamental right of athletes to participate in doping free sport. The Olympic movement’s desire to be tough on doping, and the rules of the agency it founded to police them are at odds. That the issue of who a National Olympic Committee (NOC) can select is to be determined on a legal issue of compliance with the WADA code is farcical.

-Brian Lewis

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

T&T’s women fell just short of being promoted to the Americas Zone Group I of the Fed Cup after losing their semifinal playoff 2-0 to Mexico at the Club San Javier Clay Courts, Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday.
The previously unbeaten trio of Annelise Rose, Yolande Leacock and Breana Stampfli would have been disappointed with the result after topping Group A of the round-robin phase with 3-0 wins over Guatemala, Ecuador and Dominican Republic.

Group B runners-up Mexico won the first singles match when Marcela Zacarias overcame Rose 6-1, 6-1, before Ana Sofia Sanchez won a three-set battle with Leacock 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The doubles was not played.
Group B champ Chile was the other team to win promotion after scoring a comfortable 2-0 victory over Group A runners-up Guatemala.

Cecilia Costa beat Kiristen Weedon 6-4, 6-3, before Chilean number one Andrea Koch defeated Daniela Schippers 6-1, 6-4. The doubles was not played. Chile won Pool B via 3-0 victories over Uruguay, Costa Rica and Mexico and a 2-1 triumph against Puerto Rico. In the positional play-offs, Puerto Rico defeated Ecuador 2-1 to finish fifth, while Uruguay finished seventh after a similar 2-1 success over Dominican Republic while Costa Rica ended ninth.

Final positions
1= Chile, Mexico (promoted to Americas Zone Group I),
3= Guatemala, T&T,
5. Puerto Rico,
6. Ecuador,
7. Uruguay,
8. Dominican Republic,
9. Costa Rica.

Source:www.guardian.co.tt

Reigning double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson is among 20 local athletes who have attained the qualifying standards for the 30th Olympics Games set to begin on July 27 in London, England. Thompson, who sped to silver in the men’s 100m finals in Beijing, China four years ago, has attained the sprint event A standard of 10.18 no fewer than nine times in 2011 with his quickest clocking, a national record mark of 9.85 seconds set in taking his third straight national crown at the Hasely Crawford stadium on August 13. The former Queen’ Royal College student is one of seven local sprinters to dip under the A standard. Keston Bledman(9.93), Armstrong(10.07), Marc Burns (10.09), Emmanuel Callendar (10.12), Darryl Brown (10.13) and Rondel Sorillo (10.17) are the others  and will be gunning for the three spots at this year's National Championships in June to determine who will represent T&T in the individual event in London.


The seven will no doubt form the nucleus of the men’s sprint relay team aiming at improving on the silver won in Beijing. Sorillo also made the grade in the men’s 200.  World Junior champion Jehue Gordon (400m hurdles), 2009 World championships bronze medallist Renny Quow (400m) and Mikel Thomas (110m hurdles) are the other male A standard qualifiers. Sorillo blazed past the 20.55 mark for the men’s 200 with a 20.16 posting in winning last year’s national title on August 14. The 2011 World Championships finalist has gone under the barrier no less than three occasions.

Gordon is the lone local to better the 49.50 mark in the one lap hurdle event getting under the 49 second barrier on four occasions in 2011. His quickest is 48.66 which he achieved in Berlin, Germany on September 11. Quow ran faster than the 45.30 standard at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea last August clocking 44.84 in the heats. Thomas dipped under the 13.52 mark for the 110m hurdles speeding to a personal best of 13.48 at the Texas Relays on March 31 earlier this year. Local athletes have until July 8 to get their target times and distances (unless otherwise stipulated by the NAAA).  


Several of these athletes have made their marks in 2011. It would be interesting to hear of the plans of the NAAA to ensure the qualifiers maintain form and get into high level  competitions/meets to enable them to be competitive and are medal contenders in come London.
Are we going to see relay teams at the Penn Relays at the end of this month? Would athletes who have been just short of the standards (Quincy Wilson-men’s discus, Ayanna Alexander-women’s triple jump and Keshorn Walcott-men’s javelin) be given opportunities to compete at top level meets and get top level training as well as funding?


List of T&T who have already attained the Olympic standards.
A maximum of three (3) A standard qualifier or only one (1) B standard qualifier can compete.
Olympic qualifying period - May 1, 2011 to July 8, 2012

Men
100 (A-10.18/B-10.24)
Richard Thompson
9.85/10.01/10.03/10.05(2)/10.06/10.08/10.09(2)/
Keston Bledman
9.93/10.05/10.06/10.09 (2)/10.12
Aaron Armstrong 10.07
Marc Burns 10.09
Emmanuel Callendar 10.12
Darryl Brown 10.13
Rondel Sorillo 10.17
200 (A-20.55/B-20.65)
Rondel Sorillo 20.16/20.34/20.41
400 (A-45.30/B-45.90)
Renny Quow 44.84
Lalonde Gordon 45.51
Zwede Hewitt 45.51
Deon Lendore 45.56
110m Hurdles (A-13.52/B-13.60)
Mikel Thomas 13.48
400m Hurdles (A-49.50/B-49.80)
Jehue Gordon 48.66/48.75/48.92/48.98

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Semoy Hackett was denied gold in the women's 100m dash at the LSU Alumni gold in Louisiana, taking the runner up spot in a windy 11.21 sec(+2.9). Hackett topped heat two but her LSU team-mate Kimberlyn Duncan (USA) was quicker in heat one racing to a world leading time of 11.05 sec(+1.0). Hackett was also third in the 200m in 23.14 sec. The Bishops High Tobago graduate was robbed of an Olympic qualifying time as the wind reading was +4.9, over the limit. Hackett and Duncan combined to pace LSU to victory in the 4X100m in 43.35.  


Smith had to settle for silver in the women's discus with a last round effort of 49.12m. The McNeese State student was also 15th in the shot put in 13.16m.  Blaise (LSU)secured third place in the men's triple jump with a wind aided leap of 16.14m (+3.6). Davis was third in the 110m Hurdles in 13.56, again the wind reading of +3.8 denied him a personal best.
Nero (Wichita State) crossed the line in third in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Kansas Relays in 11:10.87, falling short of her national record of 10:56.97. Scarla is the younger sister of Tonya Nero, who recently set a new national marathon record of 2:43.14 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.


Results

Kansas Relays, Lawrence, Kansas April 19-21
Women100m Finals
1 Reyare Thomas Iowa Central CC 11.45 (+1.5)
Prelims
3 Thomas 11.63(+1.4) 1h4
3000m steeplechase
3 Scarla Nero Wichita State 11:10.87
1600 Sprint Medley
1 Iowa Central CC (Thomas) 3:59.65
4X100
Finals
2 Iowa Central (Thomas) 45.58
Prelims
2 Iowa Central (Thomas) 46.29 1h4
4X400
Prelims
4 Iowa Central (Thomas) 3:48.84 2h3
Men
110mH
Finals
1 Durel Busby Winsconsin- Milwaukee 13.90(+3.6)
Prelims
2 Busby 14.32 (+2.7) 1h2
200m
Finals
6Dan-Neil Telesford Iowa Central CC 21.86 (-2.0)
Prelims
7 Telesford 21.66(+2.0) 2h3
100m
Prelims
25 Aaron Leung Woo-Gabriel Wichita 11.00(+3.2) 4h5
800m
Prelims
43 Devery Robley Butler County CC 1:58.20 9h5
4X100
Prelims
15 Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Busby) 42.40
4X400
Prelims
18 Butler County(Robley) 3:21.77 4h2
4X800 yards
12 Butler County (Robley) 7:56.13 8h2

Mt Sac Relays, Walnut, California April 19-21
Women
100(+1.5)
1 Lauryn Williams USA 11.17
2 Michelle Lee-Ahye T&T 11.19
200m
12 Shawna Fermin Washington State 23.92(+1.2) 3h3
16 Magnolia Howell Threshold 24.07(+2.7) 4h2
400m
11 Howell 54.41 4h2
800m
5 Mellisa DeLeon Elite Health 2:04.48 5h1
4X100m
2 TC Management(Lee Ahye) 42.92
4X400m
Dnf Washington (Fermin) heat 1
Men
4X100m
1 HSI(Richard Thompson) 38.39

Tom Jones Memorial, Gainesville, Florida, April 21
Men
400m
Dnf Renny Quow

LSU Alumni Gold, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 21
Women
100m
1 Kimberlyn Duncan LSU 11.05(+1.0) 1h1
2 Semoy Hackett LSU 11.21(+2.9) 1h2
200.
3 Hackett 23.14(+4.9)
4X100.
1 LSU(Hackett) 43.35
Discus
2 Ashlee Smith McNeese State 49.12(p, f, 42.36, 41.92, 47.16, 49.12)
Shot put
15  Smith 13.16(13.15, f, 13.16)
Men
100m
1 Shermund Allsop LSU 10.37(+2.6)
200m
1 Allsop 20.92(+3.0)
400m
1 Deon Lendore Texas A&M 46.22 1h1
6 Ade Alleyne-Forte LSU 47.26 2h1
110mH
3 Wayne Davis III Texas A&M 13.56(+3.8)
Triple Jump
3 Kyron Blaise LSU 16.14(+3.6)
(14.63, 15.81, 15.85, 16.08, f, 16.14)
4X400m
1 LSU(Alleyne-Forte) 3:07.45

Al Owens Classic, Allendale, Michigan, April 20/21
Women
100m
Finals
6 Kirlene Roberts Central Michigan 12.15(+2.0)
Heats
4 Roberts 12.21(+1.2)
4X100m
2 Central Michigan (Roberts) 46.69
4X400m
15 Central Michigan(Roberts) 4:13.79

Michael Johnson/Dr Pepper Classic, Waco, Texas, April 21
Women
400mH
1 Sparkle McKnight South Plains 57.53 1h2
2 Janeil Bellille South Plains 57.66 2h2
400m
14 Karla Hope Abilene Christian 56.99 7h1
4x400 yards
1 South Plains(McKnight) 3:36.47
13 Abilene Christian(Hope) 3:52.24

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Deon Lendore (Texas A&M) captured his second 400m title by claiming the LSU Alumni Gold Classic one lap race in Louisiana, USA on Saturday in 46.22 secs. This was 0.66 off his personal best 45.56 which he set in winning the UM Hurricane meet in Florida one week earlier.

Another T&T athlete Ade Alleyne-Forte (LSU) was sixth in 47.26 after taking the runner up spot behind Lendore in heat one.  Alleyne-Forte returned to claim gold with his LSU colleagues in the men's 4X400m relay in 3:07.45. His school mate, Shermund Allsop, sped to the sprint double taking the 100 in 10.37 sec (+2.6) and the 200m in  20.92(+3.0).

Reyare Thomas claimed the Kansas Relays women's 100m dash in 11.45 (+1.5) and helped her Iowa Central University to victory in the 1600 sprint medley in 3:59.65. The 2009 CAC Champs 200m bronze medallist also pushed  Iowa Central to second in the 4X100 (45.58). Durell Busby (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) landed the men's 110m hurdles gold in his fastest time ever of 13.90 seconds but the clocking will not stand as a legal personal best because the wind reading of +3.6 m/s was over the limit of +2.0.

Mc Knight continued her winning ways, securing the women's 400m hurdles at the Michael Johnson/Dr Pepper Classic in Waco, Texas getting to the line in 57.53 sec, just missing her pb of 57.42 secs set last month. Her South Plains team-mate and training partner was a close second in 57.66 secs. Mc Knight then led South Plains to victory in the 4X400m relay in 3:36.4

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Michelle Lee Ahye signaled her intentions for this year's Olympics in London, England by dipping under the women's 100m qualifying standard. Lee Ahye, a four-time Carifta sprint queen, blazed to 11.19 seconds to finish runner up at the Mt Sac Relays, Walnut, California, USA on Saturday. The 2011 World Championships semifinalist was beaten to the line by former World Champion Lauryn Williams (USA) who won in 11.17 sec. Lee Ahye bettered the 11.29A standard  for the third time since the start of the London qualifying period from May, 1, 2011. She also improved her previous pb of 11.20, set in the heats of last year's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Twenty-year-old Lee Ahye was also part of the TC Management Club which finished second (42.92) in the women's 4X100m. Lee Ahye is one of three local females to have attained the required standards in the women's 100m event for London. World Championships bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Baptiste (10.91) and Semoy Hackett (11.17) are the other two. Reigning double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson launched his Olympic campaign, with gold in the men's 4X100m relay with his Handling Speed Intelligently (HSI) team in 38.39 secs.

-Clayton Clarke

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Barbados continued its march to the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a 51-0 demolition of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, when the first round of qualification for the Caribbean region reached its climax at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.

After a 34-3 victory in Kingstown two weeks ago, Barbados was even more dominant on its home turf, and though they did squander several points due to missed conversions, they displayed superior speed, defence and lateral movement of the ball.

Tries were scored by hooker Gregg Moseley-Clarke, fly half Kofi Chase, second rower Kevyn Murrell, number eight Steven Milar, prop Neil Forde, flanker Dwight Forde and winger Ramoun Downes.

Winger Jae Bowen also scored twice during the rout.

“We have a lot of young players in our team and we need to make sure that they can compete at the highest level,” said Dennis Hargreaves, technical development officer with the Barbados Rugby Football Union.

“The national team that we had five years ago was far more experienced than this current team. None of this current crop has played at the highest level before. A lot of these guys are still schoolboys. But it’s nice to blood them and they are showing their commitment.”

Barbados will this week face Curacao in an international friendly, before taking on Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup qualifier on May 5 in the twin-island republic. Barbados will then play host to Guyana on May 19.

“Curacao is a country which is currently developing the sport. It will be a warm-up for our Under-19 development side and from that game we will see if there is anyone else in contention for the national squad,” added Hargreaves.

In 2006, Barbados enjoyed its best showing at the Rugby World Cup by winning the Caribbean Zone of qualification before losing to Canada and United States in the Americas Zone.

Speaking about the sport in general, Hargreaves said: “It’s alive, but it could be a lot better. We need to get more support, from the players themselves and from the public in general. We are holding our own, but things could indeed be better.”

The 2015 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by England and will be contested between September 4-October 17. (AH)

Source: www.barbadosadvocate.com

April 21 - Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Sponsor Procter & Gamble (P&G) has released its first global advertising campaign concurrently across the world, showing the lives of Olympic and Paralympic athletes through the eyes of their parents.

The video of the advertisement, released to coincide with the "100 days to go" until London 2012 mark on Wednesday (April 18), can be watched here.

Called The Hardest Job is the Best Job, the film opens with parents across the world waking up their children.

It then shows a parent taking her daughter swimming and watching as she takes her first steps in the pool (pictured top).

Other parents prepare food (pictured below), wash clothes and attend to injuries as youngsters play volleyball in the street or run in the park.

Later, the child swimmer and volleyball player start to compete professionally, as does a young gymnast and runner, before all are shown competing on the biggest stage of all: at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The advertisement finishes by showing the proud reactions of the parents in the crowds watching their children (pictured below) – followed by the "The Hardest Job is the Best Job" strapline.

It also forms a key part of P&G's global "Thank you, mum" campaign, designed to ensure that mothers have the chance to watch their sons or daughters compete in London this summer.

Most of P&G's key brands – including Gillette, Pampers and Oral-B – were set to activate the campaign at the same time as the clip went live.

Irwin Lee, P&G UK and Ireland managing director and vice-president, said: "Launching our first global P&G campaign allows us to shine a light on the amazing work mums do every single day in raising their children.

"At P&G, our business is all about supporting mums across the world with products like Pampers, Ariel and Fairy.

"Through our partnership with the International Olympic Committee, we are using our voice to celebrate mums for everything they do, and to inspire people everywhere to express thanks to their mum or a mum that they know."

Mum of two Paula Radcliffe, the wowen's world marathon record holder and a Pampers ambassador on behalf of P&G, commented: "I am very proud to be part of this campaign as I know that I wouldn't be where I am today without the unconditional support of my mum and family - thank you, mum."

The release of the advertisement coincides with the rolling out of a series of short documentaries about London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic hopes over the coming weeks.

In all 50 documentaries will be shown worldwide over the coming months – the global Olympic and Paralympic sponsor supports more than 150 top athletes who have, between them, collected 375 international medals.

Among those in the conglomerate's stable are 16-times grand-slam tennis champion Roger Federer and Chinese badminton star Lin Dan, the only player to win all nine of the sport's major titles.

-David Gold

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

April 21 - The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have stepped up their plans to get cricket included on the sports programme at the Commonwealth Games, admitting that they are hopeful it could feature as early as the 2018 competition in the Gold Coast.

The CGF revealed last May that getting the sport on the programme at the Commonwealth Games was a priority and the issue was discussed at their Executive Board meeting here.

Bruce Robertson, the CGF vice-president who chaired the majority of the two-day meeting, revealed that they are close to getting cricket onto the programme at the Commonwealth Youth Games in St Lucia in 2017 in a move that could pave the way for it to appear at Gold Coast 2018.

"Getting cricket on the programme at the Commonwealth Youth Games in St Lucia is a strong possibility because it is something that St Lucia has expressed they are very interested in doing," he told insidethegames.

"That is the first step to getting the sport into Commonwealth Games.

"Whether or not it gets on the programme in time for 2018 is largely up to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and we are certainly hopeful that it is something they will try to make happen.

"I think it would be a great thing to help profile the sport in the Commonwealth and to encourage youth to get involved and we would obviously welcome the move.

"I think it is a win-win situation if we can get it."

Cricket was played for the only time at a Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 but Gold Coast 2018 chairman Mark Stockwell has already expressed his wish to have it at the Games in Australia, insisting it would add "an extra bit of magic" to the event.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat also told insidethegames earlier this year that his organisation believe the sport will feature at the Commonwealth Games in the future meaning that the move appears increasingly realistic.

"In my travels throughout the Commonwealth countries I have seen there are two really unifying sports - cricket for men, and netball for women," said Stockwell.

"At the moment, cricket is not one of the optional sports for the Gold Coast Games.

"But cricket can be accepted as a sport by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

"We also need to get assurances from the ICC they can fit it into their calendar and that we can have the best Twenty20 [cricketers] available."

-Tom Degun at Royal Garden Hotel in London

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

TOURNAMENT REFEREE at the recently concluded Catch Junior National Championships, Edwin Chu especially commended the Tobagonian players for their progress.

“I think the Tobago players have done exceptionally well at the Catch tournament and they have continued their winning trend for over the past two years.

With reference to last year, I have seen a 100 percent improvement in players like Ty and Joshua Abraham.

Elan Murray- Mendes, who is also from Tobago, continues to show great potential on the competitive circuit as well,” he explained

Coach Anthony Williams has implemented several programmes in Tobago which have been paying dividends. The Boys Under-16 Singles title was won by Abraham (T), who defeated compatriot Murray-Mendes in the championship match. However, Chu admitted that he was not too impressed with the level of competition by some of the Under-16 and Under-18 players. Comparing the skill levels to that of last year’s tournament, the referee partly laid blame on the smaller number of entrants.

“I think the levels displayed this year were not up to par with those of last year. A lot of players did not take part for whatever reasons, but this was seen throughout the older divisions,” he added.

Chu also voiced concerns on the small number of Novice entrants.

“This year, the Novices category was limited to players who have never played in an official tournament ever. So these were all first-timers.

“In previous years, novices were given the ‘ok’ to play even if they contested in one or two tournaments before.

This year we only had about 20 novices and I think it’s the new rule that hampered this part of the competition a bit,” Chu continued.

He was also saddened by the decreasing number of female entrants. Even though Kezia Koroma won the Under-16 Singles and Under-18 Singles, Chu felt journey to the top was quite easy.

“Koroma powered to victory yes, but she didn’t have much of a tough field of players to overcome.

This should not be. I think especially in Trinidad, we have to do a bit more to motivate and generate new female faces to the sport of tennis.

We have to implement programmes like the Tobagonians if we are to show further competitive progress,” said Chu.

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

Xavi Hernandez says Barcelona will stay true to their football philosophy as they seek to gain a potentially decisive victory over Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Madrid have seen their ten-point lead at the top of the table dwindle over recent weeks, and Barca would move to within a point of the leaders should they secure victory this weekend.

Xavi feels the outcome of the match is far from certain, but believes a victory for either side would have huge significance in the title race.

"The league depends very much on the outcome of this game," he told Gol TV. "We will try to claim the win and move to within a point of the top. We are thrilled that we've been able to reduce the gap from ten points to four.

"We have home advantage and we will try to put on a good performance to get the three points that we need."

Barca have established a reputation for dominating possession in every match they play and, while Jose Mourinho tends to tailor his approach to the match in question, Xavi says his side will simply continue with their usual strategy.

"We try not to change our philosophy," he said. "We try to be the protagonists. Madrid have taken various approaches, but we have not changed our style for any match.

"We always want the ball, to be in charge of the game, to maintain those long spells of possession that help us control the game and, from there, we try to win the match. We can't change the way we play now. We have taken this approach against all of our rivals, and against Madrid at home we will try to do this more than ever - to have more of the ball and attack more than we ever have to secure the victory."

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will again be battling it out to claim the headlines and, asked if he believes Messi is the world's best, Xavi said: "Yes, and I think most people in football think the same, but obviously Cristiano is a great footballer. They are the two players most capable of making the difference on the pitch, but Messi is peerless.

"I hate to compare them, but Leo gives us everything. He creates goals, he scores goals, makes us play, has a lot of involvement in the way we play and is at the centre of almost all our attacks. The guy has it all. He can even head it well despite his height.

"Pep once said - and he is absolutely right - that he dominates every aspect of the game. He is the best - the number one."

Meanwhile, speculation continues to surround the future of Pep Guardiola, who has yet to sign an extension to his current one-year deal.

"For me, he is key and one of the most important people here, and we would like him to continue here, but it depends on him," Xavi said.

-ESPN Staff

Source: www.soccernet.espn.go.com

Xavi Hernandez says Barcelona will stay true to their football philosophy as they seek to gain a potentially decisive victory over Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Madrid have seen their ten-point lead at the top of the table dwindle over recent weeks, and Barca would move to within a point of the leaders should they secure victory this weekend.

Xavi feels the outcome of the match is far from certain, but believes a victory for either side would have huge significance in the title race.

"The league depends very much on the outcome of this game," he told Gol TV. "We will try to claim the win and move to within a point of the top. We are thrilled that we've been able to reduce the gap from ten points to four.

"We have home advantage and we will try to put on a good performance to get the three points that we need."

Barca have established a reputation for dominating possession in every match they play and, while Jose Mourinho tends to tailor his approach to the match in question, Xavi says his side will simply continue with their usual strategy.

"We try not to change our philosophy," he said. "We try to be the protagonists. Madrid have taken various approaches, but we have not changed our style for any match.

"We always want the ball, to be in charge of the game, to maintain those long spells of possession that help us control the game and, from there, we try to win the match. We can't change the way we play now. We have taken this approach against all of our rivals, and against Madrid at home we will try to do this more than ever - to have more of the ball and attack more than we ever have to secure the victory."

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will again be battling it out to claim the headlines and, asked if he believes Messi is the world's best, Xavi said: "Yes, and I think most people in football think the same, but obviously Cristiano is a great footballer. They are the two players most capable of making the difference on the pitch, but Messi is peerless.

"I hate to compare them, but Leo gives us everything. He creates goals, he scores goals, makes us play, has a lot of involvement in the way we play and is at the centre of almost all our attacks. The guy has it all. He can even head it well despite his height.

"Pep once said - and he is absolutely right - that he dominates every aspect of the game. He is the best - the number one."

Meanwhile, speculation continues to surround the future of Pep Guardiola, who has yet to sign an extension to his current one-year deal.

"For me, he is key and one of the most important people here, and we would like him to continue here, but it depends on him," Xavi said.

-ESPN Staff

Source: www.soccernet.espn.go.com

The Olympic Games are here. Time training venues and centres are ready to go in London. How does T&T fit into this equation? Nothing has officially been done to inform the public that the Games are in July. This is the responsibility of the TTOC. This is their bag. The issue of “TRI” or “T&T” or “TrT” is still hanging in the air. The attitude of our administrators suggests nothing will be done. Correct entries must be rehearsed. Technical meetings must be attended by knowledgeable people. In the meantime, London is in full flight. They are sending out news of training venues that will be used by athletes from more than 200 countries. Athletes will finetune final preparations immediately prior to and during the Games. The facilities will be used by athletes when they move into the Olympic Village in mid-July, and will play a crucial role in the final preparation for competitors from all over the world.

These venues are crucial to the preparation of international athletes. Each venue will be no more than 30 minutes drive from the Olympic Village, and will offer facilities, equipment, medical facilities and changing rooms. T&T must come up with a transparency plan to handle and provide the emotionally charged expectations of our athletes—pre and during the games.  The London Organising Committee is preparing to deal with the large crowds that will be based in London during the games. The data points to the fact that the United Kingdom will experience a huge surge of overcrowding especially during the three weekends in which the games are in progress. The commissioner of transport for London, Peter Hendy, commented on the expected numbers of people in London while talking to The Daily Telegraph in the following manner:  “Our approach is to be ready for more people to turn up than you can ever imagine, simply because it is a great place to be. We do not want to discourage people, but we will inform people if they can’t get into central London.”

The measures to be taken by the TTOC in order to speedup our processing for the games are: 
1. Estimates of the number of athletes travelling.
2. Visa preparations though not necessary for T&T.
3. Passports.
4. Reassessment of their plans to deal with protocol.
5. Training of T&T team officials for the games.
6. The media certifications.
7. Specialist passes for the coaches of our elite athletes.
8. Family passes.

The city of London has established protocols that will be helpful to facilitate these acquisitions. Live big screen coverage will be provided for spectators in Hyde Park as well as the Royal Parks of St James and Green Park. The London 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled to start from July 27 and last till August 12 during which the city of London will be overcrowded. Home Office is guarding against disruptions by protestors at some London 2012 Olympic Games events. The Home Office has declared its commitment to take all possible measures in order to tackle any disruptions that might take place on the upcoming  Games. Lord Moynihan said: “It’s not likely to be a well-orchestrated campaign through Twitter or Web site. It is likely to be someone similar to the idiot on Saturday who causes major disruption. That is why all the security measures need to be put in place to minimise the chance of that happening. You can never completely remove it—but you can do everything possible to protect the interests of the athletes by minimising it.” The London Organising Committee is concerned that some of the major events might be disrupted by the protestors. Among the Olympic events, the first event that can fall victim to the protestors is the Olympic torch relay as the path of the relay will be exposed. Apart from that, once the games start, the most susceptible events to the protestors will be road cycling, race marathons, open water swimming as well as triathlon races. In order to protect events from protestors who might want to gain attention by disrupting the events, the LOCOG has decided to line up stewards at a distance of 25 yards from each other on the edges of such race.

-Cliff Bertrand

Source: www.guardian.co.tt