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

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has claimed here today that under-fire FIFA will emerge from their current crisis if they copy the way the IOC reformed itself more than ten years ago.

Rogge was a guest at today's Opening Ceremony of the FIFA Congress in Zurich and chose his words carefully as he made sure he said nothing contentious to add to the war of words engulfing football's world governing body.

He told the audience of FIFA delegates at the cavernous Hallenstadion that he was confident FIFA would emerge stronger from their "ordeal".

The IOC suffered their own bribery scandal over the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics of 2002 and Rogge's short speech was timely to say the least.

"FIFA is now facing allegations and controversies," he said.

"Thirteen years ago we had to face the same ordeal in the Salt Lake City case."

"The IOC ultimately however emerged a stronger organisation - and from within.

"Our past of course calls for humility and I will definitely not point the finger or lecture you.

"I'm sure that FIFA can emerge stronger, and from within."

Turning to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, Rogge said it was bound to have an impact on the Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro two years later.

"New experiences in Brazil can only serve to benefit the Rio Olympics," he said.

"It is imperative FIFA and the IOC build continue to build on our already very strong ties. "

Although FIFA has not always seen eye-to-eye with the IOC over drug abuse sanctions, Rogge was not prepared to ruffle any feathers.

"Our work together in the fight against doping within WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has been particularly successful," he said.

"More recently we have positive inroads in our collaboration to combat illegal and irregular betting."

Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insidethegames.biz

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Brian Lewis

One of the reasons my dear mother gave for never sparing the rod was: “if you get away once, you will be encouraged to keep doing it until you are eventually caught.” There were many house and life rules my mother instilled in my three siblings and myself and if we did not hear we would feel her rod of correction. Two wrongs will never make something right. There was no excuse for stealing milo and condense milk. None! All that you truly own was your good name, she use to say and   “Don’t envy what other people have.” Then there was the always constant reminder: “Don’t put God out of your thoughts. He not sleeping.” Ad nauseam! Best describes how often I have been asked in recent days about Mr Austin “Jack’ Warner, Sepp Blatter and Fifa. Most people get highly annoyed—some offended, when I respond: “I have heard of far more people who Mr Warner has helped and assisted than those he has hurt. I respect his hunger for success, determination, work ethic and his rise in world football. I also have Rio Claro roots. One of my favourite books is “Upward Through the Night”—Mr Warner’s first biography. By reading it, I learned a lot about sports administration.

There is a cost that individuals such as Mr Warner pay for scaling the heights that he has. One of the limitations imposed on leaders is that they lose the right to do whatever they want whenever they want. In other words they lose the right to think about themselves. The higher the level of leadership, the greater the sacrifice. Austin ‘Jack’ Warner is a man who divides opinion like few other public figures; admire or dislike him, there is no middle ground. What is fact and what is fiction? Saint or sinner? What are allegations? What are the hard facts? Ralph Waldo Emerson observed: “for everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain you lose something.” Life is a series of trades - one thing for another. The IOC and Fifa, the two most powerful sporting bodies in the world, are far from being exemplary role models and examples of good governance and best practice. They remain very euro centric in thought and practice.

Both have their own rules, culture and way of conducting business. They are a monopoly and as such generate a substantial amount of money from television rights and sponsorship. They wield an enormous amount of power over in the case of Fifa –football and the IOC –the Olympics and other multi sports events sanctioned by the IOC. Those elected to high office in both organisations will play by the rules and adhere to the culture that is reserved for the most senior executive office holders. The rules the big boys play by are not the same rules that national associations, and sports men and women play by. Every now and then the rules change and the goal posts are moved. The IOC had its seismic and systemic shake up following the Salt Lake Winter Olympics scandal. Fifa will now have to reflect on how it conducts business.

The message and vision of sport for social good will be viewed as a charade if world sport cannot get its collective act together and stop playing smart with foolishness. "Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive." Edgar Alan Poe’s words over the years have proven to be prophetic as his profound warning escapes many men and women. “When you in good house, bad house will call you. Friends will carry you but they don’t bring you back. Cockroach should stay out of fowl business. If you don’t hear, you will feel.” Whatap! Whatap! Whatap! Thank you Mama!

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee http www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by: Clayton Clarke

Andwuelle Wright (Zenith), left, Shane Hector (Toco TAFAC) centre, and Shane Harrigin (Oasics) - the top boys in the under 15 heptathlon at the 2011 Central American and Caribbean (CAC ) age-group trials which were staged at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on the weekend.

Alisha Glasgow and Shane Hector showed good form at the 2011 Central American and Caribbean (CAC ) age-group trials which were staged at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on the weekend. Glasgow won the girls under 15 heptathlon while Hector was victorious in the boys equivalent. Glasgow of Toco, who represented T&T at the Carifta Games in Jamaica last month, totaled 3,739 points to finish ahead of Alisha St. Louis (D’Abadie Progressive) 3,673 and her Toco clubmate Kermisha Serapio 3,373. St. Louis took the early lead on day one with wins in the first two events (80m/long jump), but Glasgow ended the day ahead on 2,255 points after four events and maintained the lead on the second day to take the title by 67 points.

Hector started slowly and ended the first day on 2,620 points behind Andwuelle Wright of Zenith (2,858) and Tobago Falcons’ Edson Moses (2,735). He was fourth going into the final event, the 1200m run which he won to end with 4,467 points. Wright was second on 4,420 and Shane Harrigin (Oasics) third scoring 4,394 with Moses fourth (4,388). In the boys under 13 pentathlon, Zenith’s Tyriq Horsford was first with 2,743 points ahead of Jahi Hernandez (Hampton) 2,648 and Tyrell Edwards (Toco TAFAC) 2,615. Horsford and Edwards battled for the early lead with Horsford marginally ahead after day one (1675 to 1668). Hosford pulled away on day two with wins in the 60 metres, cricket ball throw and long jump.

Alisha’s younger sister, Aquilla, captured the girls under 13 pentathlon, winning all five events to amass 2,411 points. Burnley’s Kerneka Waldron (2,111) was second and Reymone Philbert (Point Fortin New Jets) 2,083 was third. The top two finishers will represent T&T at the 2011 CAC age-group championships in Tortola, British Virgin Islands on July 10-11.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson copped bronze in the men’s 100m finals at the  Fanny Blankers-Keon Games in Hengelo, Netherlands yesterday. Kim Collins of St Kitts/Nevis clocked 10.05 seconds to win the event, edging out home favourite Churandy Martina. Emmanuel Callander was seventh (10.29). Thompson advanced to the finals after winning heat two in the preliminaries in 10.20 ahead of Martina (10.23) and Callender (10.25).

Another T&T athlete Aaron Armstrong was fifth in 10:40 and did not advance to the finals. National women’s shot put record holder Cleopatra Borel-Brown finished second in the Dakar Challenge, in Senegal on Saturday.

Borel Brown threw 18.28 metres to finish behind Cuba’s Misleydis Gonzalez who took the gold with 18.36m. Josephine Terklecki (Germany) was third with 17.56. Jarrid Solomon was fourth in the men’s 400m running 46.43. Ahead of Solomon was Rabah Yousif (Sudan) 45.64, Jordan Boase (USA) 45.65 and William Collaza (Cuba) 45.89.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Annie Alexander was T&T’s most impressive performer at the NCAA regional preliminaries as she smashed the women’s national discus mark with a throw of 58.58m on Saturday night. The two-time World Junior finalist got her winning throw in the third round to improve on the previous national mark of 57.68m she set in the Kentucky, US in 2008. Mc Neese State’s Ashlee Smith (48.69) was 19th. Semoy Hackett clocked 23.22 to win the women’s 200m semifinals, ahead of Kai Selvon (Auburn) 23.44. Hackett was also part of LSU team which was clocked the best time of the day of 43.60 in the sprint relay.  Florida State, with Britney St Louis in the line-up, was fourth in 44.25. T’Keyah Dumoy and her Florida International teammates were 21st in 46.42 and did not qualify. Selvon’s Auburn outfit did not finish.

However, Auburn returned to come out of top in the women’s 4x400m heats clocking 3:31:50.  In the men’s 4x400m, LSU with Ade Alleyne Forte was quickest running 3:03: 95 ahead of Jovon Toppin’s Florida  in fourth (3:04:27). Adonnis Cambell bowed out in the semifinal round of the men’s 110m hurdles finishing 16th in 14.25 as only the top 12 advanced. In the Eastern Regional at the University of Oregon, Zwede Hewitt helped Baylor University advance in the men’s 4x100 and 4x400m relays. In the sprint relay prelims, Baylor was third in 39.61 finishing second in heat two while in the first round of the mile relay Baylor was fourth quickest clocking 3:06:68 to win the first race. Deborah John was eliminated at the semifinal stage of the women’s 100m hurdles. The North Dakota State student finished 19th in 13.70 as only the top 12 advanced.  Fellow hurdler Durrel Busby (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) was also 19th in the men’s 110m hurdles clocking 14.17 seconds.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

English-based Kevin Mckenzie’s unconverted try three minutes before the end, gave Guyana a thrilling 22-20 win over defending Caribbean rugby champions T&T at the St Mary’s College ground on Saturday.
The North America and Caribbean Rugby Association’s (NACRA) Caribbean South Zone second round fixture lived up to its billing. T&T missed penalty attempts inside the first ten minutes by scrum half and designated kicker Justin Mc lean. In the 20th minute, an unconverted try by second row forward Peter Bacchus gave T&T a 5-nil lead. This was doubled in the 28th minute when a similair sequence gave Bacchus his second try which Mclean failed to convert.

In the 35th minute, Guyana flanker Richard Staglon cut the lead to 10-5. Two minutes before the break, Mclean's kicking woes continued with another missed penalty conversion. On the resumption, a fired up Guyana laid seige on the T&T line  and in the 43rd minute, T&T flanker Gordon Dalgleish was shown the yellow card for an infringement and Guyana took advantage to snatch a 12-10 lead with a Mckenzie try which was converted by scrum half Ryan Gonsalves.

In the 52nd minute, Mc Lean missed another penalty but T&T reclaimed  a 15-12 lead in the 57th minute with an unconverted try by James Phillip and second row forward Andrew Crooks’ try made it 20-12. Aasan Lewis, a half time replacement was handed the tee but his  conversion attempt struck the post. Guyana, led by their inspirational captain Claudius Butts  showed their championship qualities and in the remaining eight minutes made two unconverted tries in the 75th and 78th minutes which led to a frantic and nerve wracking end as the visitors just edged home. The final whistle sparked wild celebrations by the Guyanese players and technical staff,  a stark contrast to the distraught T&T players.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

Trinidad and Tobago's Tonya Nero qualified for the June 8-11 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships when she finished first in the NCAA West Preliminary women's 10,000 metres event, in Oregon, USA, late on Thursday.

The Wichita State University senior led all qualifiers into the 10K final. Her time was more than 24 seconds faster than the clocking produced by the winner at the East Preliminary meet, in Indiana.

Baylor University's Zwede Hewitt finished third in heat one to earn an automatic berth in yesterday's West Preliminary men's 400m quarter-finals. He clocked 46.42 seconds.

The top 12 finishers in the quarters earned a ticket to next month's Championships.

Another T&T quarter-miler, University of North Texas senior Darnell Greig, also ran in heat one, but did not finish the race.

University of Minnesota sophomore Alena Brooks and University of Wyoming senior Afiya Walker were on show in the West Preliminary women's 400m quarters, yesterday. On Thursday, they advanced automatically.

Brooks finished third in heat one in 54.41 seconds, while Walker clocked 54.65 for third spot in heat four.

Another T&T athlete, Washington State University's Shawna Fermin, was fifth in heat six in 55.78 and did not qualify for the quarters.

Carissa Leacock was eliminated in the women's long jump. The University of Iowa freshman finished 25th with a 5.83m leap.

At the East Preliminary meet, on Thursday, Semoy Hackett won heat two in the women's 100m to cruise into yesterday's quarters. The Louisiana State University (LSU) junior got to the line in 11.43 seconds.

In the women's 400m, Florida State University (FSU) senior Britney St Louis clocked 54.65 to finish fourth in heat two, securing a berth in yesterday's quarter-final round as a "fastest loser".

University of Southern Mississippi sophomore Robert Collingwood threw 16.82m to finish 23rd in the men's shot put. The top 12 throwers qualified for next month's NCAA Championships.

And Ade Alleyne-Forte bowed out in the opening round of the men's 400m. The LSU junior was fifth in heat six and 28th overall in 48.07 seconds.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Bovell, who trains with Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts, will actually swim on the final day of the five-day meet next Sunday as he gets some racing ahead of the July 16-31 FINA World Long Course Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China.

It will be the first of three racing opportunities as he is scheduled to compete in the Italian Open in Pescare, Italy from June 17, before heading to the Paris Open in France from June 26-27.

Bovell, bronze medallist in the 200m individual medley at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said he wants to inspire T&T's up and coming swimmers, as well as gauge his progress on the way to China.

"Hopefully it will be exciting for the young swimmers at the meet and an opportunity for me to see what time I can post up in order to test where I am in my preparation for 'World Champs'," he said.

"The one race is sufficient to do this without spending the whole weekend at the pool."

Bovell said competing locally is great for the sport and keeps him in touch with "his humble swimming roots".

But Bovell said there are some challenges to be overcome.

"I will have to utilise different technique in my dive, for example, than what I will use later in the summer at the World Champs (because of the different starting blocks). Also, the conditions of the pool will also be different. But the main difference for me is the level of excitement. It all has to come from within. It's harder to get up and swim fast without big prizes and stiff competition to push you and only the desire to swim a good time."

Bovell, who said training with Roberts has been great as the Olympic coach brings great knowledge and energy, said he expects to push himself over the coming weekend as he completes his final week of intense preparation.

"I think it's (training) going well. I will be coming in slightly tired and in my last hard week of training before heading off to race in Europe to fine-tune and practice on proper blocks before the upcoming Worlds."

More than 200 swimmers are expected to join Bovell at the National Age Group Long Course Championships, which has been sanctioned by FINA as a World Champs qualifier and which will see swimmers from Guyana, St Lucia and the USA competing against the best from Trinidad and Tobago.

Local swimmers will also be seeking to qualify for the FINA World Youth Championships in Peru in August, the Commonwealth Youth Games in Isle of Man in September, and the Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico in October.

Yesterday, T&T swimmers had their last opportunity at qualifying for the region's top age-group championships, CCCAN Champion-ships, scheduled for Mayaguez, Puerto Rico from June 25-July 2.

The one-day time trial took place at St. Michael Swimming Pool Facility, San Fernando.

Trinidad and Tobago are expected to field a small team for next month's competition in Puerto Rico and will be hard-pressed to match their 2009 CCCAN performance in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where they achieved their best-ever placing, second overall with a record haul of 54 medals consisting of 16 gold, 23 silver and 15 bronze.

Also on this weekend is the annual Aquatic Centre Invitational in Barbados, which started Friday and is also a qualifier for the FINA World Long Course Championships.

Two clubs from T&T, Tiger Sharks and Atlantis Aquatics, with Joshua McLeod in their line-up, travelled to Barbados for the Invitational.

Source: www.ttrfu.com

According to reports out of  Guyana that country's  National Rugby Men’s 15s team will  be seeking  redemption when they face the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA)15s Champions, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in the South Zone Second Round of the 2011 Championships tomorrow  in  Port. of. Spain Trinidad.
Guyana, seeded at number two behind T&T after being defeated by the Trinidadians  40-24 in the final of the 2008  NACRA Caribbean 15s Championships played in the Cayman Island .

Speaking to the media shortly before departing Guyana head coach  Theodore Henry said   the  
five-time  Caribbean sevens rugby Champion,intend to avenge their 2008   loss .

“ We are  going into the Lion's den [ Trinidad ]with one thought in mind. My players  are ready to rumble.We want it[ victory] bad Our objective is to beat T&T . We want the number one ranking (15s) to add to  our sevens rugby crown and number one ranking. The players understand they are representing the Guyanese people,our country and our flag. Our goal is to go all the way to the final and lift the crown."

According to a release by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) the National 15s squad have been in intensive training for the past four weeks coming off the William Blackman 15s Cup Competition, won by Pepsi Hornets .

The release stated that head coach Theodore Henry has been working the squad hard, focusing on fitness training. Guyana’s squad will be a mixture of both youth and experience having drawn players who have risen from the country’s Youth Development Programme over the past four years, supported by a number of skilled international players from the Sevens Championship team.
The 2011 NACRA Caribbean Championships are being contested in separate North and South Zones, with the winner of the North playing the winner of the South for the Championship.

To date, Barbados have emerged winners of the First Round in the South Zone, defeating BVI, 19-13, and having earlier defeated St Lucia, 31-12, BVI having defeated St Vincent & The Grenadines, 25-13.
Last Saturday Barbados were defeated 17-10 by  Trinidad & Tobago in the Second South Zone Round,  Guyana   will   host  Barbados at the National Stadium on June 11.


Editor Note:
Trinidad and Tobago   National  Rugby Football Team:
Interesting Facts
The TTRFU Logo incorporates the steelpan (the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago) and a rugby ball.

Trinidad and Tobago rugby team is known internationally as "THE CALYPSO WARRIORS."
Rugby Union  has been played in Trinidad since 1922.

TTRFU and National team Motto is Accept No Limits.
Team Colours red and black.


Trinidad and Tobago has entered every Caribbean Rugby Championship since inception in 1966.


Trinidad and Tobago have won the Caribbean Rugby Championship in 1967, 1973, 1983, 1985 ,1997,2001 and 2008  and the inaugural South Caribbean Rugby Championship in 1999.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

“But how I get dis back pain boy? It jes come on jes so!” muse many bewildered patients with chronic low back pain, attempting to make some sense of their condition. Often, efforts to explain their pain through cause and effect or logic come up empty, and frustration at the difficulty in understanding their condition begins to permeate their lives. Others who have received medical diagnoses may receive some satisfaction about the reason for their back pain. Diagnoses such as “bulging disc,” “spondylosis,” “degenerative disc disease” and “mechanical low back pain” name the condition but seldom provide a complete explanation for what really is happening in their backs. In this second article in my series on low back pain, I will attempt to explain the “nitty-gritty” of this condition. It is my hope that it will shed some light on why it is such a problem, and the importance of treating it correctly, efficiently and diligently. Indeed it is a complicated, heterogenous condition that warrants professional attention.

A breakthrough in the treatment of low back pain began with a genius of a gentleman known as Manohar Panjabi, who has done a lot of research on the subject. Through in vitro experiments, he discovered that the spine could only tolerate less than twenty pounds of load before it collapsed. The passive structures of the spine such as the bones and ligaments cannot support much weight on their own. However, in live subjects, Panjabi found that the spine could handle much more than that, upwards of three hundred pounds. From these observations, he began to realise the importance of the muscular system in the functioning of a healthy back. The muscles are able to give the spine added stability in order to allow the person to lift heavy objects. But just how does this muscular system function to allow us to perform demanding tasks such as lifting? Panjabi developed a hypothesis to explain how the spine achieves stability. It involves three components that have a very intricate relationship with each other.

The first component is the passive structures of the spine, such as the bones and their arrangement, as well as the ligaments that hold the bones together. These structures give the spine minimum stability as we saw in Panjabi’s in vitro experiments. The second component of spinal stability is the muscular system, which when activated can significantly increase the stability of the spine as the muscles contract and hold the bones in a much firmer arrangement. The final component of spinal stability is the nervous system. Let us use the task of lifting a grocery bag as an example to understand the relationship among these three components. The ligaments in the spine contain little receptors that detect the mechanical status of the spine, such as position, the effort required to lift the grocery bag, and the motion of each bone.

These receptors send information via the nervous system to the muscles, telling them what the spine is doing, how much to contract, and in what pattern to contract in order to produce the required stability to lift the grocery bag. The muscles then react appropriately and the grocery bag is successfully lifted without adverse consequences. However, low back pain often arises when this system is compromised. Most of the time, there is injury to the passive structures of the spine, as in the cases of degenerative disc disease, bulging disc, spondylosis, vertebral fractures, among many other spinal diagnoses. Injury to these passive structures also injures the little receptors in the ligaments. As a result, these receptors send incorrect information to the nervous system about the demands of lifting the grocery bag. The nervous system notes a mis-match between the expected requirements of the lifting task and the information it is receiving from the receptors. In essence, it becomes “confused” and relays corrupted messages to the muscles, so that they activate incorrectly. This results in higher stresses on the back and leads to that all too familiar chronic low back pain.

So in summary, low back pain can often arise from a degenerative or traumatic condition. This is the superficial cause. Underlying this, the commanding system of the spine, loses its ability to control the motion of the bones and generate the appropriate muscular response needed to lift the grocery bag.
Indeed it is a very intricate and complicated process, which can go wrong very easily, and become very difficult to correct. It is one of the main reasons why many sufferers will continue to have recurrent episodes of low back pain throughout their lives…unless they are able to retrain this system and make the necessary lifestyle changes, which I will explore in the next and final article in this series.

NOTE: Carla Rauseo PT, MS, CSCS, is a State Registered and Licensed Physiotherapist and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

Bledman third in Rio

Rondel Sorrillo copped third spot in the men's 200 metres, at the Golden Gala IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) Diamond League meet, in Rome, Italy, yesterday.

The Trinidad and Tobago half-lap specialist got to the line in 20.68 seconds.

Italy's Andrew Howe clocked 20.31 to win in front of his home crowd, beating Jamaican Marvin Anderson (20.49) into second spot.

American Shawn Crawford, the 2004 Olympic 200m champion, and Great Britain's Christian Malcolm were among the athletes Sorrillo beat. Crawford finished fourth in 20.82, while Malcolm (20.95) was fifth.

T&T's Emmanuel Callender copped sixth spot in 20.99.

T&T sprint star Richard Thompson clocked 10.13 seconds to finish fifth in the men's 100m.

The race was won by double Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt. Competing for the first time this year, Bolt stopped the clock at 9.91 seconds to finish ahead of fellow-Jamaican Asafa Powell (9.93). Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre (10.00) and 2003 world champion Kim Collins (10.12), of St Kitts/Nevis, were third and fourth, respectively.

Reigning world junior champion Jehue Gordon improved on his season best by almost a full second in finishing fifth in the men's 400m hurdles.

The 19-year-old T&T athlete got home in 49.09 seconds, 93-hundredths of a second faster than the 50.02 run he had produced in Guadeloupe on May 7.

South Africa's LJ van Zyl continued his fine run of form, topping the one-lap hurdles field in 47.91 seconds. Briton David Greene was second in 48.24, finishing ahead of two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor (48.66), of the United States, and Puerto Rico's 2009 World Championship silver medallist Javier Culson (48.86).

T&T-born American Kerron Clement, a two-time world champion, was ninth and last in 50.03.

T&T's Renny Quow finished fifth in the men's 400m. The 2009 World Championship bronze medallist clocked 45.83 seconds. Bahamian Chris Brown (45.16), Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales (45.43) and Belgian Jonathan Borlee (45.53) were first, second and third, respectively.

At the IAAF World Challenge meet, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, T&T's Keston Bledman earned bronze in the men's 100m dash in 10.27 seconds. Briton Dwain Chambers was the class of the field, winning easily in 10.05 seconds.

At the halfway stage, Bledman was well placed to secure silver. However, he was challenged for the runner-up spot in the second half of the race by Jamaicans Kimmari Roach and Dexter Lee. Roach won the battle for silver in 10.26, finishing just ahead of Bledman and fourth-placed Lee (10.28).

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Angus Eve has been given the lead responsibility of preparing the national Under-23 team for the Caribbean Football Union Olympic qualifiers, to be played in Dominica in July.

This was announced after the technical committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), following an evaluation of the performance of the T&T Under-20 team at the CONCACAF U-20 final round of qualification in Guatemala, recommended that coach Zoran Vranes be relieved of his duties, which included his position as head coach of the Under-23 team.

According to TTFF technical adviser Keith Look Loy, reports from the head coach and manager of the Under-20 team were reviewed and the decision was followed through by the Federation.

Eve and Clint Marcelle, another ex-national player, have been serving as assistants, preparing the team at sessions, which have been held three times per week at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training pitch.

Thirty-eight-year-old Eve made 117 appearances for T&T, scoring 34 goals. After retiring as a player, he served as an assistant coach at San Juan Jabloteh and also held coaching responsibilities at Ma Pau FC.

Apart from playing for Defence Force, Jabloteh and Joe Public, he also played for English club Chester City in 1999/2000.

T&T's group in Dominica runs from July 20-24, when they come up against Dominica and the Netherlands Antilles.

Cuba will host Guyana and Aruba in Group C to begin the first round of Caribbean Olympic qualifying from June 23-27.

Suriname will host Group A with Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and the Cayman Islands August 3-7, while St. Kitts & Nevis will be the site for Group D with Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda and St. Lucia July 21-25.

The group winners will advance to a second group phase, from which two will qualify for the eight-team CONCACAF finals next year in the United States.

Source: www.ttrfu.com

Defending Caribbean 15 a side rugby champions Trinidad and Tobago  have added Joseph Quashie to the T&T  national men's rugby team  that will clash with arch rivals Guyana on Saturday at the  St Mary's(CIC) College grounds in Port.of. Spain,Trinidad. The Calypso Warriors  defeated Barbados 17-10 last week in Barbados.

Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) chairman of the selectors Curtis  Nero  said that  the uncapped Quashie was originally selected in the team for Barbados but could not travel . The  University of Trinidad and Tobago(UTT) third year student is  however available for the Guyana game and has been included in a 23 man T&T team that will go into camp at a location in Port.of. Spain  from Friday afternoon.

Both Guyana and T&T  are in a must situation .A T&T victory will see the defending champions  qualifying  for the championship final which will be played against the winner of the North Zone- either Bermuda,Mexico or Cayman Islands.  Guyana on the other hand need the  win to keep their chances of dethroning T&T alive. Guyana still have to play Barbados.

Guyana although ranked  second to T&T  in the  current Caribbean 15s rugby ranking.  Have the edge on recent form albeit in the sevens rugby format.

Guyana are the five time sevens rugby champions and  CAC games gold medal winner. This year Guyana played in the Las Vegas leg of the International Rugby Board(IRB) World sevens series. Last year they were the Caribbean representative at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

TTRFU chairman of selectors Curtis Nero said he is expecting a rugby war on Saturday as there is a lot at stake for both teams.

" Guyana are a tough team to beat. the nucleus of their sevens squad also make up their 15s squad. They are very fit,strong and fast. Historically the two nations have had a keen rugby rivalry going back to the 1920s, and the MacGregor Cup. Our matches with Guyana are always tense,hard and physical  high tempo  encounters.  Our youthful squad will receive a mental and physical examination on Saturday. But I am confident the players are ready for battle" said Nero.

The  T&T team was announced following  a training session at the CIC grounds yesterday.

Forwards:Samuel  Roberts (Caribs), Jason  Joseph (Police), John  Hill (Harvard) Rowell  Gordon (Harvard) Andrew  Welch Jnr (Royalians) Miguel Lara (Caribs) Jamal  Clark (Caribs)  Andrew  Crooks(Trinidad Northern) Peter  Bacchus ( Caribs) Jesse  Richards UWI),Graeme  Alkins (Caribs) Gordon  Dalgliesh ( Trinidad Northern) Adam  Frederick- captain- ( Trinidad  Northern) Wayne Kelly(Harvard/UTT)
Backs: Jonathan  O'Connor (  Trinidad Northern) Justin  McLean ( Trinidad  Northern) Carlton Felix( Royalians/UTT) Aasan  Lewis (Harvard/ Esher ) Kelson  Figaro (Royalians) Don  Rojas  (Caribs) , James   Phillip (Royalians) Kendall  Mootoo (Caribs) Joseph Quashie( Harvard/UTT)
Team Manager-Curtis Nero
Head Coach-Larry Mendez
Asst Coach-Dale Trotman
Physio- Rajesh Dharrie- Maharaj
Technical Director Murray Roulston( New Zealand)
Referee- George Nicholson(Barbados)
Match- Saturday 28 May 2011- CIC College Grounds Port.of. Spain
Kick off 4pm.

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

T&T sprint star in Quantum 100

Almost two years after he last graced a local track, 2003 World Championship 100 metres silver medallist Darrel Brown will be on show on Saturday, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, in Marabella.

Sidelined by a strained left hip flexor for all of 2010, Brown competed for the first time in 20 months at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational, in Florida, USA, on April 16.

The 26-year-old athlete finished fourth in the 100m dash in a wind-assisted 10.34 seconds, and teamed up with Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman and Rondel Sorrillo for gold in the sprint relay in 39.04.

On May 6, Brown captured the 100m title at the Brigido Iriarte Memorial meet, in Caracas, Venezuela. He clocked 10.34 seconds to secure a comfortable victory.

On Saturday, Brown will face the starter at the Quantum Invitational Track Classic, his first meet on home soil since the 2009 National Championships, held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium 23 months ago. At that meet, he finished fourth in the 100m final in 10.05 seconds, and was part of the T&T 4x100m relay team that won in 38.78.

At the Quantum Invitational, Brown will do battle in the men's 100m dash.

"Just taking it like another race, leading up to the [National] Championships," the La Horquetta sprinter told the Express, during a training session at the Crawford Stadium warm-up track, on Monday. "I'm going in, trying to work out the kinks. I'm trying to get in as much races as possible before the national trials."

Brown said he has no specific time goal, ahead of Saturday's Quantum Invitational, at the Ramjohn Stadium.

"I'd like to run as fast as possible…would like to finish injury free and hopefully have a season best."

In October, 2006, Brown joined the MVP camp in Jamaica. But one year ago, he parted company with the Stephen Francis-coached training group.

"Around May, I made the decision to leave MVP. I was hurt. The same hip flexor was giving trouble, and I was telling them I was hurt, I was hurt, and they weren't really taking me on, so I just packed up all my stuff and came home."

While in the MVP camp, Brown trained alongside former 100m world record holder, Jamaican Asafa Powell.

"I take everything as a learning experience, but that's three years down the drain. I know how to start better, I got extremely strong, but the injuries kept holding me back. Last year I just got fed up and came home."

Brown is now based in T&T and is coached by Trevor Hewitt and Ashwin Creed.

"They hooked me up with a guy out of Florida named Vern Gambetta."

An internationally renowned coach and Functional Training specialist, Gambetta has played a key role in Brown's rehabilitation.

"I've been working together with everyone to clear out the injuries and try to get back my form. The strained left hip flexor had been bugging me since February (2010) and it wasn't getting better, so we just decided to try and get everything correct for this season."

So far, so good. Brown is confident his injury woes are behind him, and he's comfortable with his new coaching arrangement.

"I'm back home," said the smiling sprinter, "so everything is good."

Brown is the 100m world junior record holder. He established the 10.01 seconds standard in the quarter-final round at the 2003 World Championships, in Paris, France.

In 2005, Brown ran a personal best 9.99 seconds in finishing second to Marc Burns (9.96) at the National Championships. Six years later, that 9.99 run is still his lone legal sub-10 clocking.

Brown hopes to set that right this season.

"My goals are to make the final at the World Championships (in Daegu, Korea), of course try and medal, and run a PB (personal best) again. I haven't run a PB since 2005."

Brown is confident he can challenge the Big Three of global sprinting—Jamaica's double Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt, American Tyson Gay and Powell.

"Anything could happen. Once I'm in tip, top shape, I could be up there with the top three, actually the top five guys, because you have (Jamaicans) Yohann Blake and Nesta Carter now.

"I'm thinking more medium to long term," the 2002 100m world junior champion continued, "but if it happens at the World Championships, I'll take that."

Brown's biggest career goal, however, is earning an individual Olympic medal.

"No matter what colour."

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Trinidad and Tobago's opening NACRA (North American and Caribbean Rugby Association) Championship victory over Barbados last weekend has pushed them three spots up the International Rugby Board (IRB) world rankings.

T&T's "Calypso Warriors" leaped to 42nd following their hard-fought defeat of Barbados on Saturday at the Garrison Savannah in Bridgetown.

Trinidad and Tobago are the defending champions and face another stiff test against Guyana this Saturday at St Mary's Ground on Serpentine Road, St Clair.

T&T, who had a first round bye, scored first in the encounter with the Barbadians, scrum half Justin McLean converting a penalty after winger Kendal Mootoo was tackled above the shoulder line.

Both players debuted for the national team in the match.

Another debutant, James Phillips, also completed an unconverted try before half-time to send T&T in with a 12-5 lead at the break.

Barbados had an unconverted try of their own early in the second half, but Kelson Figaro's 70th minute try ensured the hosts could not spring the upset.

Trinidad and Tobago coach Larry Mendez feels the victory against Barbados, with 13 uncapped players in the squad, is an important one.

"It was not achieved in the manner I would have wanted but, all things considered, I will take it. We are all clear about the extent of the hard work that is required."

Mendez also pointed out that his team are going to have to play even better to beat Guyana, who he described as being a very "physical and fast team that play a ball-oriented, high-tempo game of rugby".

"They are also a scoring threat from anywhere on the field," Mendez added.

According to Mendez, successful teams need a clear philosophy. The former T&T 7s and 15s international and current Harvard Club head coach said he has a vision and philosophy about how Trinidad and Tobago should play the game.

The coach stated that T&T have the "talent and potential", but need to improve in their focus and "team ethic and ethos".

Mendez also paid tribute to past national teams.

"The great T&T teams of the past had guys who played for each other," he said. "Once they pulled on the red and black it was no longer about club or individual objectives but about country."

Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com

ROME, Italy (AFP) — World record-holder Usain Bolt says he wants to prove to the world he's still the best in the business when he makes his comeback to the track here today after nine months out.

The Jamaican has not raced since August when he was beaten by American Tyson Gay. The American won't be at the Golden Gala meeting at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, but Bolt's old domestic rival Asafa Powell, the former world record-holder, will be there to provide stiff opposition.

Bolt has made a few changes since he last raced, bulking up on muscle and working on his start. He says he hasn't lost any confidence in himself despite that defeat to Gay in Stockholm and now wants to remind everyone who is the boss.

"You lose some, you win some, you never win every race in your entire career," he said. "Last season wasn't my best, it was downtime for me. This season it's back to business. I'm really focused, I'm ready now and I'm out to prove to the world I'm still the best."

And although Bolt isn't used to losing he says no one should be surprised that he was beaten by Gay.

"Tyson Gay is definitely one of those sprinters that never gives up, he's really determined," said the 24-year-old.

"He doesn't drink, he doesn't party, he's really focused on what he wants, he's a complete athlete and a wonderful competitor."

Gay isn't running in Rome, but Powell is and Bolt doesn't want to suffer a second defeat to his compatriot. Powell has beaten him just once in nine outings, and that, too, was in Stockholm back in 2008.

But while Bolt is the world record-holder over 100m and 200m and Olympic and world champion in both, Powell is the great choker, having never won a major gold medal, even when he was the fastest man in the world.

Even so Bolt expects tough competition from his friend.

"Asafa's a great athlete, he's been in the top three for a lot of years now, he broke the world record many times," said Bolt.

"He's great, he's going to come out and run hard. I'm looking forward to it, the competition is always great between us."

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

T&T Olympic hopeful Andrew Lewis would have contested the Laser category in its preliminary stages at the Delta Lloyd regatta in Medemblik, Holland yesterday. The regatta is the fifth of seven World Cup events. Hoping to finish the event in the Gold Fleet while pushing to take T&T to a top 35 country, Lewis will be competing with intentions to help improve his world ranking which currently places him at 137th (as of May 4). Initially through the preliminary stages, all efforts will be made to advance to the Silver Fleet before the Gold Fleet can be taken into consideration.

Lewis has been in Holland since Saturday after a short stint in England to begin training for the event which will feature over 600 boats in ten Olympic classes with elite sailors traveling from 61 countries.
So far Lewis has participated in all but one of the seven World Cup events. He missed the event in Palma, Spain in March, sacrificing the consequence of an effect on his world ranking to train in Perth, Australia’s World Cup venue.

During his time in Perth, Lewis (through the Emerging Nations Programme) trained with some of his future opponents in the Pan Am and perhaps the Olympics next year, taking every ounce of opportunity ahead of the World Cup events 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championship also being held in Perth in December. While in Perth, he managed a third place finish in the full-rig laser class. He will be back in the UK from next week to take part in the sixth World Cup event in Weymouth and Portland between June 5-11. Lewis will be in action in the laser category from this afternoon and results will determine his participation in the next few days. The final day of competition is Sunday.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Nicole Lambie, Nataki Hypolite and Tamara Joseph of the T&T Karate Union (TTKU) National women’s team were silver medallists in the recently held Caribbean Confederation of Karate (CCCK) championships in Barbados. The trio were part of the 16-member contingent national team which retured to T&T with a total of 10 medals in five different categories.

Daniel Shim, son of coach Dr Dexter Shim won bronze in the Under 21 Male Kata and Kumite category while Janelle Alexander similarly won the Female Individual Kumite category. Both Adrian Moreno and Aaron Alexander placed third in the 16-17 Male Kata and Kumite category. Jesse Gonzales achieved the same but in the 14-15 division. Mario Kalloo is the manager and official for the team while Freida Shim is assistant coach. The team traveled with 13 competitors.

The entire team comprised of Rachel albert, Jenelle Alexander, Nataki Hypolite, Tamara Joseph, Nicole Lambie, Jesse Gonzales, Aaron Alexander, Adrian Moreno, Daniel Shim, Brett Bengochea, Kwame Kinsale, Kerwyn Duncan-Hume and Ryan Rajmoolie.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

South Africa are hoping to make a decision by the end of the month about whether to bid or not for the 2020 Olympics or Paralympics, the country's leading official Sam Ramsamy has told insidethegames.

Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth have all expressed an interest in bidding for the Games but the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) are still waiting to hear whether the Government will back a campaign to try to become the first city in Africa to host the event.

There is strong support for a South African bid following the success of last year's FIFA World Cup there but Ramsamy insists that they will only put themselves forward if they have the full support of President Jacob Zuma.

"No city on its own can do it without Government support," said Ramsamy, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission that is overseeing preparations for next year's Games in London.

"We have done a presentation to the Government and are hopeful that they will make a decision by the end of this month.

"We have asked the city's to be patient with us.

"We are hopeful."

Under the bid procedures launched yesterday by the IOC, South Africa has until September 1 to nominate a city.

But they hope to be able to pick a city before the IOC holds its Session in Durban between July 4 and 9, which would be the ideal opportunity to impress visiting members and officials of the benefits of hosting a Games in the country.·

Tubby Reddy, the chief executive of SASCOC, knows the importance of the Session.

"It's a major opportunity," he said.

"Of the 115 IOC members who are coming, 99 per cent will be making the final decision [at the IOC Session] in Buenos Aires in 2013.

"That's why it is so important - impressions stay."

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The netball fraternity is mourning the sudden passing of Alden Lewis. He died at his home in Santa Cruz on Saturday night during a surprise birthday party for his wife, international umpire Anne-Marie Dickson-Lewis. A month ago, T&T netballer Sonia Jack died after a short battle with cancer.

The 34-year-old national goalkeeper and shooter passed away at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she had been ailing for the past few months. Last year T&T lost another “Calypso Girl”, netball shooting star Lystra “Twinkle Toes” Zamore-Sheppard.

Lewis was the treasurer of the T&T Netball Association (TTNA) for a number years and held the same position in the Port-of-Spain Netball League, for a lengthy period. Lewis was one of the founding members of Horizon Sports and Cultural Club which participates in a number of netball and basketball leagues. At the time of his death he was the manager for teams in both sporting discipline.