Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard “Torpedo” Thompson picked up silver in the men’s 100 metres dash at the Meeting Areva IAAF Diamond League meet, in Paris, France, yesterday.

Running into a 0.8 metres per second headwind, Thompson got to the line in 10.08 seconds to secure the runner-up spot, behind American champion Michael Rodgers, who clocked ten seconds flat.

Former world champion Kim Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, finished third in 10.10, while fourth spot went to Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.12).

Thompson has been in superb form this season. On May 31, the 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist won at a meet in Florida, USA in a wind-assisted 9.74 seconds. He was also victorious on June 8 at a meet in Hengelo, Netherlands, getting home in 9.95. Three days later, Thompson clocked 10.02 to claim gold at the Bislett Games IAAF Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway.

Thompson’s best run this season came on June 21 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. In front of his adoring fans, the T&T track star captured the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championship men’s 100m title in 9.82 seconds—a new national record and, at the time, the fastest time in the world this year.

Thompson is now second on the 2014 global performance list, behind 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, the American clocking 9.80 seconds for gold at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Source

Andwuelle Wright was in dominant mood on day two of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Track & Field Championships, in Morelia, Mexico, yesterday. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete produced a 7.15 metres leap to secure gold in the boys’ under-18 long jump.

Mexico’s Bryan Sanchez was a distant second with a 6.93m leap, while third spot went to Dominican Republic’s Tony Solis (6.91m).

John Mark Constantine, 100 metres champion Jonathan Farinha, Holland Cabara and Aaron Lewis combined for gold in the boys’ under-20 4x100m relay, the T&T quartet stopping the clock at 40.06 seconds. Jamaica (40.66) and Mexico (40.81) earned silver and bronze, respectively.

Farinha claimed his second individual medal at the Championships when he finished second in the 200m final in 20.82 seconds. Anguilla’s Zharnel Hughes produced a brilliant 20.33 run for gold in the half-lap event. The clocking is a new meet record, bettering the 20.67 standard established by T&T’s Marcus Duncan in 2004.

David Winchester, Akanni Hislop, Corey Stewart and Xavier Mulugata teamed up to grab gold for T&T in the boys’ under-18 4x100m in 41.25 seconds. Bahamas (41.76) were second, while Puerto Rico (42.15) finished third.

Hislop, the 100m bronze medallist on Friday, also finished third in yesterday’s 200m championship race, the T&T sprinter getting to the line in 21.27 seconds. The top two spots went to Jamaicans Chad Walker (21.12) and Fabian Hewitt (21.14).

Zakiya Denoon seized her second individual silver medal when she finished second in the girls’ under-20 200m final in 23.63 seconds, forcing her T&T teammate, Kayelle Clarke to settle for bronze in 23.71. Bahamian Keianna Albury clocked 23.54 to take the gold.

On Friday, Aaliyah Telesford and Denoon finished one-two for T&T in the 100m final.

There was silver for Jeminise Parris in yesterday’s girls’ under-18 100m hurdles, the T&T athlete crossing the finish line in a personal best 13.70 seconds. Jamaican Jeanine Williams won in 13.46—a new Championship record.

And in the girls’ under-20 100m hurdles, T&T’s Akila McShine clocked 14.05 seconds to bag bronze.

Going into the third and final day of the CAC Junior Championships, T&T have seven gold medals, four silver and five bronze.

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AMBER THOMPSON sparkled in two equestrian events in Canada recently. The 15-year-old placed second overall and was the Reserve Junior Champion in the first show, a Junior/Adult Class with heights up to a metre.

Thompson won two of the rounds and finished second and fifth in the other two aboard a thoroughbred named Vertigo. The youngster was then crowned champion in the second show, which also featured a combination of juniors and adults, but the heights of the jumps were raised to 1.10 metres. There were three rounds and Thompson was the most consistent of the 30-odd competitors with a second and two thirds.

It was the third overseas outing for Thompson this year as she also had a stint and completed in two events in Florida, USA, in April and represented the country in the Caribbean Junior Show Jumping Championships in Cayman Islands the following month. Thompson is back home training under the watchful eye of coach Patrice Stollmeyer.

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...national 100m record-holder pleased over Brown’s return to form

The 9.82 seconds scorcher produced by Richard “Torpedo” Thompson was the big story at the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, two weekends ago.

But there were many sub-plots, including Darrel Brown’s return to form. The former world junior champion got home in 10.05 seconds in the men’s 100 metres final to finish third, behind Thompson--the winner in his 9.82 national record and world-leading time--and silver medallist Keston Bledman, who clocked 10 seconds flat.

“I’m elated,” Thompson told the Express, after the race, “because Darrel is someone...I actually sat in the stands, as a boy, and watched him run, and cheered for him, and got in arguments in the stands over him. It is good to be running against Darrel, who I consider one of my idols. I know he’s been through rougher times than any one of us with his injuries, so it’s good to see him at 10.05 again, qualifying individually (for the Commonwealth Games). I know he’s over the moon. His family, they’ve been very supportive and have been behind him, so I know they’re just as happy as he is.”

With track legend Usain Bolt and his fellow-Jamaican, former 100m world champion Yohan Blake opting out of the individual events at the July 23-August 3 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Thompson is the early favourite for 100m gold.

“I have to produce those times against the people that matter. They’re going to be bringing their ‘A’ game, and I can’t become lackadaisical. I can’t be content with 9.82. I need to go back to the drawing board, working even harder than before, even smarter than before, and I think I stand a good chance of being on the podium if I can run like I did today.”

Thompson’s one-year-old son, Rhys, witnessed his father’s 9.82 sizzler at the T&T Championships.

“It feels great. I brought him out onto the track with me, had him wave to the fans. I’m getting him in the process of being a champion himself and seeing what it’s like, so hopefully he’ll be running some day...a junior ‘Torpedo’,” said a laughing Thompson. “If not, doing something great as well.”

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Part 14: Jehue keeps QRC flag flying

Jehue Gordon is part of a tradition of athletic excellence—a Royal tradition.

Way back in the 1930s, McDonald Bailey attended Queen’s Royal College. He went on to become an Olympic medallist, earning men’s 100 metres bronze for Great Britain at the 1952 Games in Helsinki, Finland.

Wendell Mottley and Edwin Skinner were students at QRC a couple decades after Bailey. They too went on to climb an Olympic podium. Mottley seized men’s 400m silver at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, Japan. And in the 4x400m, Mottley and Skinner were part of the Trinidad and Tobago quartet that earned bronze, teaming up with Kent Bernard and Edwin Roberts.

Skinner, who finished eighth in the Tokyo Games 400m final, is now part of the Jehue Gordon team. Skinner is Gordon’s local manager, and has played a key role in the young athlete’s rise to stardom.

Following his elementary schooling at Maraval RC, Gordon attended Belmont Boys’ Secondary for five years. He then moved on to QRC.

“Jehue as an individual,” Skinner explains, “considers education extremely important. He’s one of the few professional athletes that’s still full-time at university and training to be a world-class athlete. He places importance on both of them. That is why he came to QRC. He had that opportunity to do his A Levels, and also the tradition in track and field. While at QRC, he ran at the Penn Relays.”

Gordon was in fine form at the 2010 Penn Relays in Pennsylvania, USA. Just 18 at the time, he produced a 46.03 seconds split to anchor QRC to fourth spot in the High School Boys’ 4x400m Championship of America.

Three months later, Gordon struck gold in the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada.

“Attending QRC,” says Skinner, “was like the finishing school for Jehue. It really gave him that experience in track and field and education-wise. And this is why he had that good foundation to move on to be a world-class athlete.”

A visit to the QRC hall for an interview with a group of international journalists brings back many memories for Skinner.

“Track and field has always been a major part of the Queen’s Royal tradition. Years ago when we had our athletic meet, it was a big social event which would be held on weekends. Guys would be dressed up in their best Sunday outfit, and the girls the same way.

“QRC,” Skinner continues, “was also one of the few schools that participated in all the track and field meets in the country, be it Southern Games, Eastern Games...That’s part of the reason we produced a number of world-class athletes.

“Even before our time, we had McDonald Bailey. He ran for England, but we consider him one of our first medallists at the Olympics. He was co-holder of the (100m) world record, and had the world record for most individual British championships, so QRC goes back a long, long way in producing world-class champions.”

Skinner says being part of the QRC Olympic tradition is very special.

“Wendell Mottley, my schoolmate, we were both there at the Olympics, in the finals, so it was a very proud moment for Trinidad and Tobago and for QRC.”

The tradition continued at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, where Richard “Torpedo” Thompson claimed silver in the men’s 100m, and then teamed up with fellow-Royalian Marc Burns—as well as Keston Bledman and Emmanuel Callender—for silver in the 4x100m relay.

Four years later, at the London Games, there was more precious metal for QRC, Thompson and Burns combining with Bledman and Callender for sprint relay bronze. And in the men’s 4x400m relay, Royalian Deon Lendore anchored T&T to bronze.

At the 1964 Games, T&T just missed out on 4x400m silver, Great Britain snatching the runner-up spot from Skinner and company.

Forty-eight years later, at the London Games, Skinner was one of Team T&T’s coaches.

“When I went up to England for the Olympics, I told them I came for my revenge after all those years. And lo and behold, if you remember the race, we were running third, and there was Britain bearing down on us. I said ‘oh no, it’s not going to happen again’. But Deon Lendore held him out and we won the bronze medal. It was a very satisfying moment for me.”

The fact that Lendore is a QRC old boy made revenge doubly sweet for Skinner.

And there was more satisfaction to come, Jehue Gordon becoming QRC’s first senior global athletics gold medallist when he won the 400m hurdles final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

The Royal tradition continues.

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Ahye wins at first Diamond League meet

Michelle-Lee Ahye struck gold on her IAAF Diamond League debut, in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. The Trinidad and Tobago sprinter topped the Athletissima women’s 100 metres field in an impressive 10.98 seconds.

Running into a 0.3 metres per second headwind, Ahye recovered from an ordinary start to just get the better of Murielle Ahoure, the Ivory Coast athlete also clocking 10.98 to pick up silver. American English Gardner was a distant third in 11.19, while Nigerian Blessing Okagbare was a non-finisher.

“Tonight I felt really good and very pleased to have won my first Diamond League event,” said Ahye, in an interview on the IAAF website (www.iaaf.org). “The time was good and I’m happy to go under 11 seconds. I know that if I can get the first 20-30 metres right, I can run a good race.”

Two Saturdays ago, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Ahye captured the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championship women’s 100m title with a 10.88 seconds bolt. The 22-year-old athlete was even faster in the semi-final round, winning her heat in a personal best and world-leading 10.85.

Yesterday, in Lausanne, Ahye proved that her sub-11 form at Nationals was no fluke.

T&T’s Cleopatra Borel finished fourth in the Athletissima women’s shot put with an 18.88 metres throw.

New Zealand’s Olympic and world champion Valerie Adams threw the iron ball 20.42m for an easy victory, beating Gong Lijiao (19.65m) of China and American Michelle Carter (19.38m) into second and third, respectively.

Reigning world champion Jehue Gordon was sixth in the men’s 400m hurdles, the T&T athlete getting home in 49.29 seconds.

Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson (48.32), American Michael Tinsley (48.40) and South Africa’s Cornel Fredericks (49.00) earned gold, silver and bronze, respectively, while fourth spot went to Dominican Republic’s two-time Olympic gold medallist Felix Sanchez (49.08).

T&T’s Lalonde Gordon clocked 48.38 seconds for eighth spot in the men’s 400m.

Olympic champion Kirani James was on fire in the one-lap race, the Grenadian stopping the clock at a personal best 43.74 to grab gold, ahead of world champion LaShawn Merritt (43.92) of the United States, Saudi Arabia’s Youssef Al-Masrahi (44.43) and Bahamian veteran Chris Brown (44.59).

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Trinidad and Tobago ended the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships  (CISC) Open Water Competition on a high after Christian Marsden won the boys’ 14-17 5km event in Barbados yesterday.

Christian won the event in a time of one hour, six minutes, 53 seconds and was also awarded the Champion Trophy for his performance in that age-group.

Coming in second was his T&T’ team-mate Kael Yorke, who clocked 1:07:03.

Among the females in the 14 to 17 age-group, Syriah David took silver in a time of 1:07:47 while her sister Shania won the bronze in a time of 1:11:53.

Also climbing the podium was Theana Hay who secured  silver in the 18 & over female category in a time of 1:10.20.

Shania David and Hay also claimed silver medals in the 10K event on Saturday.

David competed in the female 14 to 17 age-group, while Hay battled in the 18 & over category.

Jivan Chee Foon who competed in the male 18 & over category finished 7th.

The pool events of the championships will begin on Thursday.

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Tonya Nero successfully defended her Caricom 10K women’s title, returning a time of 38 minutes, 36 seconds to place ninth overall in Sunday’s race in Antigua.

The triumph was Nero’s third in a row, the Trinidad and Tobago athlete completing a hat-trick of victories.

According to a press release, Nero “was elated for the victory and thanks the Ministry of Sport, NAAA (National Association of Athletics Administrations) and coach Paul Voisin for giving her the opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago.”

Nero’s teammate, Jenelle Nedd was second for most of the race. However, she went off course, allowing Guyana’s Euleen Josiah to move into second spot. The distance was too much for Nedd to recover, and she had to settle for third in 42:03.

Guyana’s Cleveland Forde captured the men’s title in 34:52, with local runner Elliot Mason second and Grenada’s Radix Reon finishing third. St Vincent and the Grenadines runner Pamenos Ballantyne was fourth, while seventh spot went to T&T’s Nicholas Landeau in 37:26.


RESULTS

Men

1 Cleveland Forde (Guyana) 34:52

2 Elliot Mason (Antigua) 34:59

3 Radix Reon (Grenada) 35:17

4 Pamenos Ballantyne (St Vincent & the Grenadines) 36:13

5 Meshach Bublin (St Vincent & the Grenadines) 36:29

6 Kamar Thomas (Antigua) 37:17

7 Nicholas Landeau (T&T) 37:26

8 Darison Joseph (Dominica) 38:32


Women

1 Tonya Nero (T&T) 38:36

2 Euleen Josiah (Guyana) 40:48

3 Jenelle Nedd (T&T) 42:03

4 Linda McDowall (St Vincent & the Grenadines) 42:54

5 Kernisha Pascal (Grenada) 43:26

6 Arieta Martin (Jamaica) 44:45

7 Dinnal Julite (Jamaica) 45:14

8 Abbe Davis (Antigua) 49:19

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GUYANA’s 15’s Rugby Team captain Ryan Gonsalves was hailed a hero after his penalty kick that scored in sudden death saw Guyana defeating defending champions USA South to win the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 30 – 27 yesterday in Atlanta Georgia.

Reports reaching Chronicle Sport stated that the Guyanese, known as the ‘Green Machine’ had to play from behind, after trailing 24 – 8 at half time.

Rugby fans who turned up at the Life University Rugby Complex in Marietta, Atlanta, Georgia saw Guyana winning on sudden death to hoist their first ever NACRA 15’s Rugby title in dramatic fashion.

According to information received, Gonsalves converted a penalty after a Claudius Butts try just at half time but the Guyanese ‘ruggers’ still trailed their USA counterparts considerably.

An early second half try by Vallon Adams which saw the captain Gonsalves making good of the conversion sparked a Guyanese come back and the score board read 24 – 15, still in favour of USA South.

As the game progressed, Butts and Adams would carry out relentless attacks on USA South’s defence but as the game progressed Gonsalves missed what would’ve been a potential game winning conversation, and time ran out as full time, the scores were deadlocked on 27 points.

The two teams then went into the two halves of 10 minutes extra time and still a winner could not have been decided sending the game into a ‘score first and win’ situation.

USA South gave up a penalty to Guyana and Gonsalves one of the most experienced player on the team, stepped up and nailed the kick and the rest was literally history.

It was a well deserved win for the team who almost didn’t make it to the championship due to lack of funding, but thanks to NACRA who paid the team’s airfare to Atlanta, the Green Machine was able to reach to Atlanta.

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...even as security concerns hold up audit

The Life Sport programme, in its original format, no longer exists. A massive restructuring planned for the beleagured programme effectively shuts down the whole existing system and gives the new line minister—National Security Minister Gary Griffith—iron control over the multi-million dollar outreach programme. Griffith takes control of the programme even as Finance Minister Larry Howai has extended the audit deadline by another two weeks.





“I expect that the audit should be completed in the next two weeks...A lot of work had to be done in verifying payments as well as in visiting the various centres,” Howai said in an e-mail exchange with the Sunday Guardian on Friday. The Sunday Guardian has learned that the auditing delay was due to Central Audit Unit investigators’ fear of visiting some of the Life Sport centres. Howai confirmed that lack of security has created a snag for the Life Sport audit.



“It did impact on the time taken,” Howai said in response to e-mailed questions. He said the Ministry of National Security “did advise that security should be provided and they did in fact provide security for certain visits.” The Sunday Guardian has been told that the security will speed up investigations and allow the report to be completed within the new two-week deadline. Despite the incomplete audit, Griffith is expected to officially take over the programme tomorrow.



Howai said though Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar placed Life Sport under Griffith’s ministry several weeks ago (during the People’s Partnership four-year anniversary gathering on May 24), Griffith was waiting on “formal Cabinet approval before he took over the programme.” Griffith, in a text exchange on Friday, confirmed that he would be assuming full control of the programme from tomorrow. “Yes. With effect from Monday no payment is to be made unless this ministry (National Security) approves it,” he said.



“If they buy a dinner mint, I want to see that dinner mint,” Griffith said. The Sunday Guardian understands that Griffith has already planned sweeping changes which includes the removal of the existing executive and management.  The latter changes would only happen, however, when Howai’s audit is completed. The Sunday Guardian was informed that Griffith has made it known to those within the Life Sport programme that after the audit is completed he “intended to clean up house.”





The NEW Life Sport:

Liaisons with Various Sporting Federations:

By working with various sporting federations and associations, the Life Sport programme will be able to identify qualified coaches and trainers. Life Sport would use its fund to retain those professionals who would then be distributed to the various centres to conduct coaching clinics and help develop sporting skills. Such skills development would go beyond the actual playing of the sport to include the official aspect of the game, such as the refereeing of matches and scoring of games.





It may also include the logistical aspect, including the preparation of pitches, fields and courts with the correct markings, and ensuring that equipment is of the requisite standard. Besides the T&T Olympic Committee, other federations that may be approached for collaboration include the following:

● National Amateur Athletic Association of T&T
● T&T Football Federation
● T&T Cricket Board of Control
● T&T Hockey Board
● T&T Swimming Association
● T&T Badminton Association
● National Basketball Federation of T&T
● T&T Target Archery Federation
● T&T Amateur Boxing Association
● T&T Judo Association
● T&T Amateur Gymnastics Association (TTAGA)
● T&T Netball Association
● T&T Rugby Football Union
● T&T Table Tennis Association
● Tennis Association of T&T
● T&T Volleyball Federation



There is also a proposal to have sport icons work with the youth in the programme to encourage them to follow their dreams in various sporting disciplines. Several icons have already offered their services and are expected to work alongside the certified coaches and trainers.



The revamped Life Sport will cover troubled areas having at-risk youths, as well as be open to any youth that can benefit from this type of programme. Communities on the fringes of depressed communities will also be included. The programmes will also target older members of the community who can become trainers and coaches not only in the area of sports but in areas such as education, nutrition, hygiene and general welfare.



The Physical Training instructors (PTI) department and sport teams of the Defence Force will be heavily involved in monitoring this programme. It is envisaged that the presence of these Defence Force men and women will provide a safeguard against infiltration by known gang members. Defence Force personnel will also ensure that programme participants and supporting staff are not intimidated or threatened, and they will act as monitors.



The Defence Force will also infuse a measure of discipline into the participants, and foster the building of traits expected from sport that are useful in everyday life, including punctuality, discipline, uniformity, adherence to instructions, teamwork and leadership, to name a few.

Source

T&T’s mystery spinner Sunil Narine has been chosen on the West Indies team for the upcoming two-match T20 series against New Zealand next weekend in Dominica.



The right arm off-spinner was banned from playing against the same opponents in the current Test series because he failed to make the June 1 deadline to attend a preparatory camp in Barbados.



He now makes a comeback and so too Keiron Pollard who missed the 2014 World T20 tournament in Bangladesh due to injuries. However, injury will keep all rounder Dwayne Bravo off the park, as he is still recovering from a hamstring strain that now threatens his appearance in the early stages of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which gets underway on July 11 in Grenada.



Other T&T players called to the squad are batsman Darren Bravo who was not chosen for the World T20 tournament. The dapper left hander has been in form in the Test series and scored a century in the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval.



Lendl Simmons who had a fantastic Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Mumbai Indians this year, is also on the team, as well as the Royal Challengers Bangalore leg-spinner Samuel Badree.



Simmons got married on the weekend in Trinidad and will be looking to continue his good form. Rounding off the six T&T men on the squad is Test captain Denesh Ramdin.



A notable omission from the team is big Jamaican left hander Chris Gayle who has been rested for this series.



Darren Sammy who was recently removed as Test captain will be back from his stint with Glamorgan from the Natwest T20 Blast in England to lead the team.



The matches will be played at Windsor Park, Dominica, on July 5 and 6.





FULL SQUAD



Darren Sammy (Captain), Samuel Badree, Christopher Barnwell, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith.

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Is Trinidad and Tobago ready for CONCACAF?



Given the improved performances of the three (Costa Rica, Mexico and USA) most powerful nations within CONCACAF at the World Cup, several burning questions have to be answered as I am sure they are already oscillating in the minds of many especially those in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).



Firstly, are CFU members including regional power houses such as T&T and Jamaica prepared to match horns with showings of the likes of Mexico, Costa Rica, USA along with Canada, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and the improving Panamanians? Secondly, is there a widening gulf between the teams from North and Central America and the CFU? Thirdly, do CFU and its members have all the resources (funding, administrative and technical) to seriously compete with the other proven footballing members of CONCACAF? Can Caribbean countries seriously challenge for the Gold Cup and or consistently perform with satisfaction at this event? T&T has participated in eight of 12 Gold Cup’s with a best performance of third in 2000, whilst Jamaica’s best performance came in 1993 when they placed third. Fourthly, and more importantly how realistic is it to qualify for upcoming World Cups, starting with Russia 2018?



Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States have exceeded all expectations and have represented the CONCACAF region with great determination, commitment and pride during the group stage of 20th FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014. This is the first time that three CONCACAF teams have advanced out of the group stage. The best performance by a CONCACAF team at a World Cup has been the United States who placed third at the inaugural World Cup in 1930.



These teams did not just also ran but competed fiercely to qualify for the round of 16 and beyond. By the time this column is published both Mexico and Costa Rica second round matches would have been completed. Victory for both of them would set up a quarter final match on Friday.



Costa Rica stands out from the lot as they came out of the ‘group of death’ which featured three former World Cup winners and traditional power houses in world football: Italy, England and Uruguay. They won their group unbeaten, scoring four goals and conceding one. Mexico also played unbeaten and were able to dent all aspirations of Brazil prevailing over them. The United States although they lost to Germany 1-0, demonstrated they are a force to be reckoned with a victory over Ghana and narrowly being deprived of a much deserving victory against Portugal who scored in the virtual last attack of the game to steal a draw.



As much as the region celebrates the performances of the CONCACAF representatives at Brazil 2014, the underlying message is that if T&T is to become a serious consistent contender in CONCACAF it cannot be business as usual. There is an urgent need to focus at all levels at the same time- age groups and senior national teams- men and women. The talk has to be backed by action. For instance, has the much touted benefits of developing youth football from hosting the FIFA Under- 17 World Cup for boys in 2001 and girls in 2010 been realised? Is the local premier league producing the standard of play required to compete regionally and internationally? Is there an integrated system which allows for early talent identification locally and internationally of the best players regardless of where they ply their trade? Are our coaches and technical staffs across all levels on par with each other and connected to an end goal. For instance, Jurgen Klinsmann has overriding control of all football in the US.



As the president of the TTFA and his executive cull over the structure and organization of football at the back of their mind, the question of funding will continue to trouble them. Long term development cannot take place without funding. The state can only contribute so much monies to football development as there are other competing sporting disciplines seeking funding. The TTFA has to find ways to attract private sponsorship. One way this can happen is by top performances especially against top-ranked teams. The respective national teams have to perform at a standard that would command the attention of the private sector. Additionally, the TTFA has to get the public re-interested in supporting football. One cannot forget the nationalistic euphoria that was exhibited on the ‘road’ to Italy and Germany, where the national team played to packed houses. The crowd was definitely the 12th player.



There is no denying that T&T will have to lift its overall standards in order to compete successfully in CONCACAF. However, with the right leadership, effective integrated strategies, funding (state and private sector) and public support, there is no reason why this country cannot perform consistently within CONCACAF and on the world stage. Germany 2006 must always remind us our potential.

Source

Ghana’s president has removed the minister of sport and his deputy from their positions in the wake of the country’s poor performance in the World Cup. The president, John Mahama, gave no reason for the order, but it comes after the team finished bottom of Group G, failing to win any games.

The president’s statement on Saturday said that Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah was now a minister of state in the government while his deputy Joseph Yammin had been sent to the Ashanti region as a regional minister.

The team’s World Cup campaign has been dogged by difficulties and controversy. Ghana’s players threatened to strike unless a cash shipment containing unpaid fees was sent to them. Mahama was forced to send a plane containing £1.76m to Brasília for the players to share.

Meanwhile Sulley Muntari was suspended for what the country’s FA alleged was “an unprovoked physical attack” on an FA executive committee member. Kevin-Prince Boateng was also suspended indefinitely for what the FA said were “vulgar verbal insults” aimed at the team’s coach, James Appiah, during training.

The country’s 2014 campaign was in sharp contrast to the 2010 one, in which Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals and were denied a goal that might have taken them to the semi-finals by a Luis Suárez handball. Ghana’s World Cup ended on Thursday after a 2-1 loss to Portugal.

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A youth prodigy given his big break by a suspected associate of Pablo Escobar, Rodríguez has taken Carlos Valderrama’s No10 shirt and may steal his crown as Colombia’s greatest ever player

James Rodríguez’s maturity has long been one of his hallmarks. Having been born in Cúcuta, a city near Colombia’s Venezuelan border, his family uprooted to Ibagué when he was only little. His father, himself an ex-footballer, was largely absent in Rodríguez’s early years and so it was left to his godfather, Juan Carlos Restrepo, to look after his footballing development.

At the age of two Rodríguez would go to watch the now defunct second division side Cooperamos Tolima train. While the players were warming up Rodríguez was seen racing down on to the pitch and mimicking the squad’s exercise drills. As a skinny five-year-old, he enrolled at the Academia Tolimense football school.

But it was at the Pony Futbol championship in 2004 that Rodríguez’s life changed for ever. Every year the infant tournament grabs huge attention in Colombia with games being televised and scouts swarming to the event. It is seen as one of Colombian football’s best breeding grounds, with 11 of the 30 players initially called up by the coach, José Pékerman, having played at the competition.

Radamel Falcao appeared at the 1998 version, but six years later it was Rodríguez and the goal the forward scored directly from a corner that left the greatest impression. He finished as top goalscorer and best player, and in the crowds a highly powerful and controversial ex-associate of the infamous drug baron Pablo Escobar was taking note.

If Rodríguez now partly owes his place among the world’s elite to Pékerman’s support and masterful schooling, back then it was a businessman with suspected ties to Medellín’s drug cartels and vigilante death squads who gave the teenager his big chance.

Gustavo Adolfo Upegui Lopez was president and chief shareholder at Envigado football club where Rodríguez would go on to make his professional debut. To this day the Academia Tolimense claim they were “cheated” out of a fair price when Envigado swooped for Rodríguez.

But Upegui was not a man to be messed with. He had been jailed for 21 months in 1998 for suspected links to cases involving kidnapping as well as organising rightwing paramilitary groups, although he was eventually cleared of the charges. Envigado’s first president, Jorge Arturo Bustamante, had been shot dead in 1993 and a long string of unsolved murders plagued both the club and Upegui until the director himself was murdered in 2006.

But Envigado’s youth setup was second to none and Rodríguez understood the huge opportunity presented to him by Upegui. After uprooting his family to settle in Medellín, the youngster turned to the renowned coach Omar Suárez for private coaching. “That says it all about him,” Suárez commented. “Which other kid his age would consider paying for extra coaching because they want to be the best?”

Rodríguez would go on to play just one top-flight game for the Medellín side but the club would provide the springboard for him to sign for Argentinian minnows Banfield in 2008.

It was here where his career really took off. At 17 Rodríguez made his debut as the youngest foreigner to play in the Argentinian first division before leading the club to their first league championship. Banfield’s manager, Julio Falcioni, heaped on the praise. “He is going to achieve something special with the Colombia national team.”

Rodríguez had already started planting those seeds as a key part of Los Cafeteros’ return to international football’s top table when he captained the under-20 side at the 2011 Toulon tournament. He was named best player and later that year led his country to the quarter-finals of the Youth World Cup.

Three years later and he is the form player in arguably the form team of the World Cup. Last summer’s £38.5m switch from Porto to Monaco underlined the playmaker’s potential as one of the world’s most exciting young players. But it has been at this summer’s World Cup where the midfielder has glided from precocious talent to global star. Back in Colombia few are surprised.

Consecutive man-of-the-match performances against Greece and Ivory Coast helped Colombia brush aside the lassitude that swamped the country’s World Cup preparations after injury to their talismanic striker Falcao.

Balanced, intelligent and technically gifted, Rodríguez has been the drive and vision behind Colombia. And it’s not just as a creative force where Rodríguez has been one of the tournament’s standout players. With three goals he is already Colombia’s all-time top goalscorer at a World Cup finals.

Credit must also go to the sagacious Pékerman whose faith in the young star has allowed Rodríguez to truly blossom. One of the first decisions the Argentinian coach made upon taking the Colombia job in 2012 was to hand Rodríguez the No10 shirt; Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama’s No10 shirt. It was a huge gamble for a player still only 20.

The ex-Argentina manager’s greatest move perhaps was dragging Rodríguez off the left wing where he had played throughout qualifying to operate inside as a roaming playmaker. Pékerman’s hand might have been forced due to Falcao’s injury, but it was still a bold move.

The 64-year-old coach admitted after beating Ivory Coast that he’d been worried. “It is not easy substituting somebody like Falcao. There’s always a doubt when you make such a change, but my players have all assumed responsibility,” Pékerman said.

Rodríguez has taken it all in his stride. “My responsibility grows,” the midfielder said after Colombia’s 3-0 win over Greece. “But I don’t let the pressure get to me.”

It seems incredible to think now but when Pékerman’s predecessor, Leonel Álvarez, handed Rodríguez his first senior start three years ago in Colombia’s first qualifier, a few eyebrows were raised.

Now the narrative has completely turned on its head. Indeed, if Colombia make history and reach the World Cup’s last eight for the first time, some believe Rodríguez could even assume Valderrama’s mantle as the country’s greatest player of all time.

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Reigning men’s 400 metres hurdles world champion Jehue Gordon, 2012 Olympic men’s javelin gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, and the fastest sprinters in the world this year, Richard ‘Torpedo’ Thompson and Michelle-Lee Ahye, are among 43 track and field athletes selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the July 23-August 3 Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Last Saturday, Thompson clocked 9.82 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres title at the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. The clocking is a new national record and the fastest time in the world this year.

Ahye was also victorious on Saturday, striking gold in the women’s 100m dash with a 10.88 seconds run. She had clocked 10.85 in the semifinal round to move to the top of the 2014 world performance list.

Eight-four athletes in 12 other sports were previously named on the T&T team for the Commonwealth Games. A total of 127 athletes will represent the Red, White and Black in Glasgow.

TRACK & FIELD TEAM

Men
—Richard Thompson (100, 4x100), Keston Bledman (100, 4x100), Darrel Brown (100, 4x100), Kyle Greaux (200), Jereem Richards (200, 4x400), Rondel Sorrillo (200, 4x100), Lalonde Gordon (400, 4x400), Renny Quow (400, 4x400), Jarrin Solomon (400, 4x400), Jamaal James (800), Kendis Bullard (800), Wayne Davis II (110 hurdles), Mikel Thomas (110 hurdles), Durell Busby (110 hurdles), Jehue Gordon (400 hurdles), Emanuel Mayers (400 hurdles), Kashef Daniel (high jump), Kyron Blaise (long jump), Robert Collingwood (shot put), Quincy Wilson (discus), Keshorn Walcott (javelin), Marc Burns (4x100), Emmanuel Callender (4x100), Deon Lendore (4x400), Zwede Hewitt (4x400)

Women—Michelle-Lee Ahye (100, 200, 4x100), Kai Selvon (100, 4x100), Kamaria Durant (100, 4x100), Reyare Thomas (200, 4x100), Shawna Fermin (400, 4x400), Romona Modeste (400, 4x400), Domonique Williams (400, 4x400), Alena Brooks (800, 4x400), Pilar McShine (1500), Josanne Lucas (100 hurdles, 4x400), Deborah John (100 hurdles, 4x100), Janeil Bellille (400 hurdles, 4x400), Tonya Nero (marathon), Deandra Daniel (high jump), Ayanna Alexander (triple jump), Cleopatra Borel (shot put), Annie Alexander (shot put, discus), Lisa Wickham (4x100)

Officials—George Comissiong (manager), Lester Osouna (coach), Arlon Morrison (coach), Gunness Persad (coach), Gerard Franklin (coach), Ismael Lopez (coach), Michelle Pennie (coach), Robin Brereton (coach), Paul Voisin (coach)

Medical staff—Verne Alleyne, Ian Sharpe, Brent Elder, Dr Anyl Gopeesingh

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The Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA)/Trinidad AND Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) can confirm the Trinidad and Tobago Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games track and field team is as follows:

WOMEN: Deandra Daniel-High Jump

Cleopatra Borel and Annie Alexander-Shot Put

Annie Alexander- Discus

Michelle Lee Ahye, Kai Selvon and Kamaria Durant-100M

Michelle Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas-200m

Shawna Fermin,Romona Modeste and Domonique Williams- 400m

Alena Brooks-800m

Pilar McShine-1500m

4x100M- Michelle Lee Ahye, Kai Selvon,Kamaria Durant, Reyare Thomas, Lisa Wickham and Deborah John

4x400m- Shawna Fermin, Alena Brooks, Romona Modeste, Domonique Williams, Janeil Bellille and Josane Lucas

Tonya Nero- Marathon

Josanne Lucas and Deborah John- 100m Hurdles

Janeil Bellille-400m Hurdles

Ayanna Alexander-Triple Jump

MEN:

Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman and Darrel Brown-100m

Kyle Gereaux, Jereem Richards and Rondell Sorrillo-200m

Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow and Jarrin Solomon-400m

Wayne Davis, Mikel Thomas and Durel Busby-110 hurdles

Jehue Gordon and Emanuel Mayers- 400m Hurdles

Jamal James and Kendis Bullard- 800m

Kyron Blaise-Long Jump

Kashief Daniel- High Jump

Quincy Wilson- Discus

Robert Collingwood-Shot Put

Keshorn Walcott- Javelin

4X100M Relay-Keston Bledman, Richard Thompson, Darrel Brown, Marc Burns, Rondell Sorrillo and Emmanuel Callender

4x400m-Relay- Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon, Deon Lendore, Reny Quow, Jereem Richards and Zwede Hewitt

Officials:

Manager- George Commissiong

Coaches- Lester Osuna,Arlon Morrison,Gunness Persad,Gerard Franklin, Ismael Lopez, Michelle Pennie,Robin Brereton and Paul Voisin

Medical- Verne Alleyne, Ian Sharpe, Brent Elder and Dr Anyl Gopeesingh.

‘Torpedo’ Thompson bolts into top-ten

Before last Saturday’s 9.82 seconds golden run at the NGC/Sagicor National Open Track & Field Championships, Thompson was joint-11th on the all-time global list with Americans Leroy Burrell and Mike Rodgers and Nigeria’s Olusoji Fasuba. All four sprinters had a personal best of 9.85 seconds.

But Thompson chopped three-hundredths of a second off of his Trinidad and Tobago record to move to the top of the 2014 world performance list and, at the same time, jump into the top ten all-time, leapfrogging Canadians Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin, who are now joint-tenth at 9.84.

Jamaican Usain Bolt is at the top of the list with the 9.58 seconds world record run he produced to strike gold at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

American Tyson Gay and Jamaican Yohan Blake are joint-second at 9.69. Two more Jamaicans, Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter are fourth and fifth, respectively, at 9.72 and 9.78. Americans Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin are joint-sixth at 9.79. And eighth spot is occupied by Jamaican Steve Mullings (9.80).

T&T sprinters, Ato Boldon and Keston Bledman are joint-15th on the all-time world list at 9.86 seconds. They share that spot with American Carl Lewis, Namibian Frankie Fredericks and Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu.

After his record-breaking run, Thompson told the Express that 9.82 seconds was not a clocking he had in mind at the beginning of 2014.

“It was completely off of my radar at the start of the season. The goal was just to be healthy again, to overcome the (hip) injury. I did an interview (with the Express) at the start of the year, and I said it would be nice to just get under 10 seconds again. And here I am with the national record. God is really great, and he blesses those who put themselves in a position to be blessed. This is the hardest I’ve worked, probably ever in my life. I’ve been the most disciplined, and I’m just glad for today’s result.”

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Trinidad and Tobago’s senior women national footbal team will play Venezuela’s senior women’s team in two friendlies next month. The ‘Soca Princesses’ first host their Venezuelan counterparts on July 6 at Mahaica Oval, before meeting them a second time two days later at a venue likely to be the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

The Trinidad and Tobago are one of several Caribbean teams seeking to utilise the expansion of the World Cup to 24 teams to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The CONCACAF region could for the first time have as many as four representatives at the world tournament. In addition to Canada qualifing as host, North, Central America and Caribbean region (CONCACAF) is guaranteed three automatic qualifying spots (up from two), while the fourth-placed finisher qualifies for a playoff for an additional spot.

From August 19-26, Trinidad and Tobago will host the 2014 Women Caribbean Cup which series as the final round of  Caribbean qualifying for the World Cup in August. In preparation, the TTFA have arranged a month-long training  camp for the team in Houston, Texas, USA, from July 10 - August 10 .

The Soca Princesses are currently engaged in training sessions three times per week at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,  as they look ahead to the Caribbean Football Union final round of qualification towards the CONCACAF World qualifiers  later this year.Coach Marlon Charles is currently overseeing the team’s preparations with a current 20-player training squad.

“Preparations are coming along quite well,” Charles said in an uintyerview with TTFA Media. “The key components we are focusing on at the moment is fitness and injury recovery barring the technical and tactical aspects of the preparations as we look ahead to the Venezuela matches and then the training camp in Houston,” he added.

‘’Most of the senior players are back home and they’ve all been part of the programme since age 11 or so. We have players who have been out on scholarships and are now back home and this is their last hurrah. They love the game and they are extremely committed to getting to the next World Cup.”

Charles said the 20 players in training now are all T&T-based but the door will be opened up following the Venezuela match with the likes of Swedish-based player Ahkeela Mollon and US-based forward Kennya Cordner expected to join the team in Houston.

“We will give every player the  opportunity to vie for selection as we try to assemble the best team possible. I think the players realize that this is about the team and putting country first. They’re now about concentrating on what is best for the team and the country,” Charles added.

“The Venezuela matches are coming at an ideal time as we haven’t played together for some time but this will give us an idea where we’re at at this time and what needs to be worked on as we look ahead to the August tournament.”

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Olympic medallist Richard Thompson and Michelle Lee-Ahye are now the fastest athletes in the world for 2014 in the men’s and women’s 100-metre events respectively. New IAAF rankings declared Thompson’s record breaking 9.82 performance at last Saturday’s Sagicor/NGC Senior Open Track and Field Championships held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, caused him to jump to the top spot, ahead of Justin Gatlin of the USA. Ahye’s winning performance at that event was achieved in 10.85 seconds. A closer look at the IAAF standings showed Thompson, who had a difficult 2013 season due to injury, not only bounced back, but went on to register to other top ten performances.



On June 8, at the IAAF World Challenge’s Fanny Blankers-Keon, held in Hengelo, Netherlands, he won in a time of 9.95. It allowed him to clinch the fourth spot, too, on the honour roll. Three days later at the Diamond League series on Olso, Norway, he won in a time of 10.02. For the performance he was ranked ninth according to the IAAF. But for Ahye, it was extra special citing that she held the top three spots. Having recorded a time of 10.88 at the weekend (wind +1.2) Ahye tied for second with Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown. The latter athlete’s time was 10.86 (wind +2.0). At the Francisco “Papuito” Montaner Stadium, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, back in May, Ahye won the women’s 100-metre in 11.04 seconds. But as fate would have it, Thompson and Ahye would share company with other impressive local athletes.



While Keston Bledman was unable to successfully defend his title at the weekend and had to settle for second to Thompson, his (Bledman) time of ten seconds nestled him in eight position according to the IAAF Web site. It was now clear that last Saturday’s battle royale at the Hasely Crawford Stadium bumped other local athletes on the rankings, too. Darrel Brown’s 100-metre performance earned him the 17th spot with a time of 10.05, while Renny Quow’s 400-metre win put him at 18th in the world. Deon Lendore’s victory at the Southern Conference Track and Field Championships, in Lexington, Kentucky, USA back in May (in 44.36) in the 400-metre, had him third in the world. Competing in the 400-metre at last month’s Baie Mahault Invitational (in 44.91) earned Lalonde Gordon the tenth spot.



Rankings

MEN’S RANKINGS

Rank     Mark     WIND     Competitor
1     9.82     +1.7     Richard Thompson
2     9.86     -0.4     Justin Gatlin
9.87     0.0     Justin Gatlin
9.91     +0.4     Justin Gatlin
9.92     0.0     Justin Gatlin
3     9.93     +1.8     Kemarley Brown
4     9.95     +1.7     Jimmy Vicaut
9.95     +1.4     Richard Thompson
5     9.96     +1.4     Chijindu Ujah
6     9.97     +1.8     Travyon Bromell
7     9.98     +1.4     Simon Magakwe
8     10.00    +1.7     Keston Bledman

WOMEN’S RANKING

Rank    Mark     WIND     Competitor
1     10.85     +1.6     Michelle-Lee Ahye
2     10.86     +2.0     Veronica Campbell-Brown  
10.88     +1.2     Michelle-Lee Ahye
3     11.00     +1.5     Samantha Henry-Robinson  
4     11.03     +1.7     Remona Burchell
11.04     -0.9     Michelle-Lee Ahye
5     11.04     +0.6     Morolake Akinosun
7     11.06     -0.6     Murielle Ahouré
11.07     -0.1     Tori Bowie
8     11.08     +0.5     Kerron Stewart

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...Thompson, Ahyee, Bellille, Gordon, Quow stand out

Brian Lewis, president of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC), has described last weekend’s Sagicor/NGC Senior Open Track and Field Championships as a tremendous confidence boaster for this country’s participation at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23-August 3.



The performances of the athletes at the three-day meet staged by the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, saw Olympic medallist Richard Thompson of Rebirth dethrone Keston Bledman to reclaim the men’s 100-metre title, and in the process establish a new national record of 9.82 seconds. Thompson previously held the national record of 9.85 since 2011.



Meanwhile, Janeil Bellille of Neon Trackers broke a 16-year-old national record in the women’s 400m to capture the quarter mile title in 51.83. Olympians Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon and Renny Quow battled for tops honours in the men’s 400-metre finals. It was Quow, however, who got the edge to clinch gold in 45.073.



In a G-sport interview, Lewis said, “Oh… Very encouraging! And it wasn’t only the performances of those who won. It’s great to see for example in the 100 metres Marc Burns and Darrel Brown. They have been around for quite a while being very competitive. Darrel Brown is at his best time I think since 2003. He has had a very tough time and for him to keep fighting and never give up that’s the kind of thing that people must understand: that resilience, that perseverance, that indomitable will.



We look at Michelle Lee-Ahye. Her performances continue to improve year on year. You have some of the younger people coming through (like) Kia Selvon. I am very hopeful.”



He added: “We are going into the Commonwealth Games with a tremendous confidence boaster with this weekend’s track and field performances at the track and field championships. We have this confidence boaster with Njisane’s (Phillip) performances. He seems to be back on track, so to speak, from his health issues earlier this year. George Bovell III seems to be evergreen and still improving. So, I think there is reasonable cause for significant optimism heading into the Commonwealth Games. I like what I am seeing from the young boxer Michael Alexander.”



Lewis scoffed at those in society who insist on ruling out the ability of athletes when their medal copping performances dipped. He described this practice of writing off such athletes as “a little fickle.” The TTOC official marvelled at the speed at which the public build up athletes when they were in championship mode, but were quicker to dismiss their medalling potential when they were going through difficult times.



“After the Olympics (London 2012) they were saying George Bovell III too old and you start to get these hurtful statements being made. Sport, just like life, is something that is full of ups and downs and people don’t recognise that there is a process, especially when you are involved in elite level sports. It’s a process, it’s a journey…not just a destination, and it requires perseverance and indomitable will.



“I believe it is the responsibility of the national sport organisations and the TTOC to be there for our athletes in good times and in bad times. If one was to judge sometimes from the talk shows and social media, you would see at times we tend to be very hard, even harsh on our athletes when they go through a loss of form,” Lewis said.



Lewis added: “I remember just last year, in the CPL (Caribbean Premier League), Dwayne Bravo being booed, at home. Look at the challenges Darrel Brown has had over the last couple years… Renny Quow? We have to understand that there are different reasons why people may lose form, whether it be through injury or other things and it is important that we have an environment that doesn’t come across as being band-wagonist in its approach.”



The TTOC official said he eagerly awaited the return of Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett who were banned from competition and was not afraid to state his support publicly.



“I am not one of those who is there to be part of any lynch mob on these two female athletes. I have said it in the past and I will continue to say it. In my experiences dealing with them over the years, I have no doubt in my mind that they have a commitment to competing clean and air—that they are not deliberate drug cheats.



“I look forward to seeing them back in the mix. I think it is well publicised that Semoy Hackett’s situation has been brought to closure. She will resume her career sometime next year. From what I have seen in the media in the case of Kelly-Ann Baptiste, her due process is still on-going. That is something we just have to wait on. But I am confident that she will be able to rise above adversity and triumph,” said Lewis.

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