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

Upon the centenary of this country's declaration of war on Germany, it is appropriate to recall that sport suffered as grievously as any other sphere of society during the conflict

How little the innocence of a Swedish summer seemed to preface the sinister clouds of conflagration.

George Hutson, Thomas Gillespie, Laurie Anderson and Richard Yorke had all assembled at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm in anticipation of stirring some national pride, and scarcely 2½ years later all four of them were dead. Frederick Kitching, a standing long jumper at the 1908 Games in London, had also perished.

Upon Monday’s centenary of Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, it is apt to recall a quintet of young British Olympians who entered World War One imagining that it would all be over by Christmas and ended up never seeing another Christmas at all.

Of the 888,246 poppies that lie strewn at the foot of the Tower of London this morning, denoting each member of Britain’s military dead in The Great War, five are for them. They are the oft-forgotten figures who support the terrible truth of Field Marshal Lord Roberts’s proclamation in August 1914 that “this is not the time to play games, wholesome as they are in times of piping peace. We are engaged in a life-and-death struggle.”

For sport in Britain would suffer as grievously as any other sphere of society, with the loss of 34 first-class cricketers, 27 England rugby union internationals, and unknown hundreds among the 2,000 professional footballers who signed up to serve.

The quest to recruit sportsmen had gathered pace at the behest of Arthur Conan Doyle, the Sherlock Homes author, who argued: “If the cricketer had a straight eye, let him look along the barrel of a rifle.” As the fate of those five Olympians, deprived even of seeing out 1914, showed vividly, it would come at the most dreadful price.

Not that Hutson had the vaguest inkling. He was broadly recognised as the most promising distance runner of his generation, first coming to notice when he won a military cross-country race while stationed at the Curragh, for the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, “beating all favourites”, according to his official death notice.

For three years in succession he was the English champion over a mile, reaching the zenith of his career at the Olympics in Stockholm, where he took the bronze medal in the 5,000 metres, behind Finland’s Hannes Kolehmainen and Jean Bouin, of France, both of whom shattered the world record. He would seize another bronze in the 3,000m, narrowly trailing team-mates Joe Cottrill and Cyril Porter as the British completed a sweep of the podium.

It was Hutson’s misfortune that a mere five weeks after Britain went to war, his unit became drawn into the First Battle of the Marne, marking the start of the trench-bound inertia that would characterise the entire conflict. It signalled “the end of the beginning”, to invoke Churchill’s line about El Alamein.

Despite the Allied victory that thwarted an apparently remorseless German advance towards Paris, whose governor-general had already ordered demolition charges to be placed beneath the Eiffel Tower, the slaughter was terrible, with half a million men killed or wounded in the space of eight days.

Hutson himself is understood to have died just as the Germans began their withdrawal north of the River Marne, near the Ardennes village of Vendresse. His remains were never recovered, and it was not for another eight months that his widow, back home in Roseland Cottages in bucolic Lewes, was even informed of his passing. He was 24 years old.

Scottish rower Gillespie had been almost an exact contemporary, going one better at the Stockholm Games by grasping a silver in the men’s eight. He had first unearthed his gift as an oarsman at Winchester, before refining his craft at New College, Oxford, with whom he twice won the Head of the River Race as a prelude to capturing a defining Olympic medal.

A little over two years later, he obtained a university commission to join the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, seeing action almost immediately as a lieutenant in the First Battle of the Aisne, the hideous stalemate of September 1914 that did much to lock the belligerents into a sequence of negligible gains and losses for the next four years.

Gillespie lay in the trenches at Missy-sur-Aisne, exposed to the bombardment of German heavy artillery for 17 days and nights. He was reported killed, aged 21, at La Bassée, a small town in the Pas-de-Calais region, as the opposing armies fought with mounting futility to envelop each other’s northern flanks in the grimly-titled ‘Race to the Sea’.

His brother, Alexander, was also lost in the war, but his letters from Flanders survive to this day, and a foreword from the then Bishop of Southwark attests explicitly to Thomas’s sporting prowess.

Depicting him as a “great, strong, fearless, affectionate fellow,” he offered an ode borrowed from Victorian poet Robert Browning: “Our manhood’s prime vigour! No spirit feels waste. Not a muscle is stopped in its playing, not a sinew unbraced.”

Athlete Anderson, four years Gillespie’s senior, was an Eton man, securing the school’s rare distinction of captaining the ‘Oppidans’ – the most academically distinguished pupils – at the same time as being voted president of ‘Pop’, otherwise known as head boy.

It had been intended that he should follow his older brother, Arthur, to Cambridge, but instead this consummate sprinter went to Oxford, promptly earning his blue for track and field before setting the first official world record for the 440-yard hurdles in 56.8 seconds. Inauspiciously for Anderson, the event was excised from the Olympic programme for Stockholm, but he was still a favourite to claim a medal in the high hurdles until falling in his semi-final.

As war engulfed western Europe, Anderson was swiftly embroiled with the Cheshire Regiment, and amid the carnage around Ypres suffered mortal wounds alongside George Bertram Pollock-Hodsoll, a footballer who had played for the Army team. There is some dispute over whether his injuries were immediately fatal, with battalion archives registering his death on Nov 7, while the Commonwealth War Graves Commission puts it four days later.

But news of his death rippled far and wide. Indeed, Anderson’s name was the first mentioned in a mournful dispatch in The New York Times headlined: “England losing athletes – many prominent in sporting circles die on battlefields.”

It is inscribed now on the Menin Gate in Ypres, which commemorates every one of those 54,000 officers whose final resting place will never be known and where buglers, without fail, sound the Last Post at eight each evening.

Kitching, while a figure of less public renown than Anderson, was the first British athlete to exhibit sustained proficiency in the javelin. From County Durham and originally a specialist in the standing jumps, he switched to the spear with immediate success, becoming the only Briton of his day to break the 120ft, 130ft and 140ft barriers, eventually establishing a personal best of 143ft 3in (43.66m).

He had arisen from a diametrically opposed background to Anderson, as a descendant of the Victorian industrialists, counting himself as one of seven grandsons of Alfred Kitching, builder of the Derwent locomotive.

Local folklore in his hometown of Darlington insists that he won at least a bronze in the standing long jump at the London Olympics in 1908, but published results list him as one of 17 entrants without a recorded distance.

The precise circumstances of his death after enlistment in World War One also continue to be uncertain. He is believed to have fallen in late 1914 in Dunkirk, where the Navy had arrived to help bolster the defence of Antwerp, but the CWGC is yet to identify a grave.

Yorke, a steeplechaser, was the one British Olympian slain in 1914 who had competed in both the 1908 and 1912 Games, having switched to the flat to enhance his chances in Stockholm.

It proved a forlorn ploy, as he was eliminated in the opening rounds of both the 800 and 1,500m, his last significant appearance before war. As a sergeant with the London Scottish Regiment he fought in Arras, where in December the French had asked for urgent British involvement to help push the German line further north.

Yorke lost his life three days before Christmas, at the culmination of the Battle of Givenchy. He is buried at the Arras Road cemetery near Roclincourt, where 263 bleached-white headstones are arrayed in perfect equilateral formation, marching towards the horizon across this flattest and most forsaken of landscapes.

Somewhere on Monday, in that extraordinary Tower of London display, there will be five poppies for Yorke and his fellow Olympians. They stand as suitably stark testimony to sport's lost generation.

Source

Team’s pride after record medal haul reverses slide, and knocks Australia off top of the table, while inspired hosts Scotland double their previous tally

It was more a measured response to a specific question than a patriotic roar, but the words still crept out of Jan Paterson’s mouth: “We smashed it”.

With the curtain drawn on the 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games, Team England’s chef de mission was able to reflect on a job well done.

Not only had they had ended Australia’s 28-year stint at the top of the medal table, they had also set a new record in the process: 174 medals – consisting of 58 golds, 59 silvers and 57 bronzes – meant Glasgow was officially England’s best Commonwealth Games in history.

That the landmark had already been achieved with a day to spare was simply salt in Australia’s wounds. Gold medals on the final afternoon for Lizzie Armitstead in the road race and husband-and-wife badminton mixed doubles pair Chris and Gabby Adcock were nothing more than a bonus.

From the high of 53 gold medals in Manchester 12 years ago to the lows of 36 and 37 in Melbourne and Delhi respectively, the slump was definitively over.

“We are immensely proud of our achievements,” said Paterson. “To be top of the medal table is a unique position for us to be in. Our aspiration was of reversing the slide in Delhi on the medal table. Well we haven’t just reversed it, we smashed it. It’s a great feeling.”

Shorn of headline stars such as Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill, the most encouraging element of England’s success was that a healthy chunk of it came from previously unknown sources. Indeed, no star shone brighter than Claudia Fragapane.

Arriving in Glasgow as a relative unknown, the 16-year-old left not only as one of the brightest gymnastics talents the country has produced, but with stardom undoubtedly on the horizon. The dynamic 4ft 6in ‘Pocket Rocket’ dazzled with her street-dance inspired routines on her way to becoming the first Englishwoman to win four golds at a single Commonwealth Games since swimmer Joyce Cooper in 1930.

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, the youngest British swimmer to compete at the London Olympics two years ago, was another who came of age, equalling the record of six medals won at a single Games, while Ben Proud and Adam Peaty were further examples of breakthrough English success stories in the pool, with two gold medals apiece.

“We set our goal and we’ve not only achieved it but exceeded it,” said Paterson. “For the team that is here, especially because they are such a young team, the potential going forward is massive.

“Looking to the Gold Coast [Commonwealth Games in 2018] and beyond, I think it’s a real step up and a lot of the athletes who are here have benefited from what Team England has done. The average age of our medallists is 24 so the future is looking bright.”

Glory was not confined to the those making their big breakthrough in Glasgow. There was also joy for a number of more established competitors, with Olympic medallist Max Whitlock eclipsing celebrity team-mate Louis Smith to become a triple gymnastics champion.

Nicola Adams won the first women’s Commonwealth Games boxing gold medal, Tom Daley retained his 10 metre platform title and brothers Alastair and Jonathan Brownlee ensured both individual and team triathlons were an all-England affair.

Daley, who also claimed synchronised 10m platform silver, says the hope now is for England’s triumph in Glasgow to have the same effect as Britain’s recent Olympic accomplishments. “It shows the legacy of London 2012 and hopefully we can see a legacy of these Commonwealth Games,” he said. “In 10 years’ time we could be the most dominant country at the Commonwealth Games and even at the Olympics.”

When Team Scotland posted a pre-Commonwealth Games target of breaking their record 33-medal haul of Edinburgh 1986, the declaration was not just the bravado of a host nation looking to capitalise on home advantage. Years of planning and investment had gone in to making sure Glasgow 2014 would be lifted by the success of Scottish athletes, and the results were spectacular.

Surpassing that previous best tally halfway through the Games, the hosts ended with 53 medals – more than double the 26 won at the last Games – and finished fourth in the medal table.

It was away from the abstract world of numbers that the hosts really shone, however, as a set of Scottish stars gave the home crowd memories to treasure: The smile of 13-year-old swimmer Erraid Davies after winning bronze; the determination of athletes Lynsey Sharp and Eilidh Child to live up to the hype and claim silver medals in front of an elated Hampden Park crowd; the exuberance of gold-medal winning boxer Charlie Flynn; the complete shock of swimmer Ross Murdoch after beating home favourite Michael Jamieson to 200m breaststroke gold.

Success seemed to breed success for the Scots. “For me, watching how well people did at the start of the Games just inspired me to want to be like them,” said Sharp.

For Wales, Geraint Thomas’s road race victory in the pouring rain of the final day capped off a record tally of 36 medals that at one stage had seemed almost an impossibility.

Any hope of reaching their pre-Games target of 27 medals seemed to have disappeared with a calamitous build-up that saw Fred Evans refused accreditation for a past criminal conviction, Gareth Warburton and Rhys Williams suspended for failing drug tests and Becky James, Non Stanford and Helen Jenkins withdrawing through injury.

With gymnast Francesca Jones picking up six medals and Jazz Carlin becoming the first Welshwoman in 40 years to triumph in the pool they not only reached their target, but far exceeded expectations.

So as Glasgow 2014 ends there can only be one conclusion to draw. To borrow Paterson’s words: the home nations “smashed it”.

Source

Australia won just 49 gold medals - compared to 74 in Delhi four years ago following hauls of 84, 81, 79 and 87 - and, worst of all, England took their place at head of the table.


If only Australia had not left it quite so late. Despite winning four of the 11 gold medals on offer on the final day in Glasgow, the 417-strong team will make the long journey back home wondering what went wrong.

Not since the Edinburgh Games of 1986 have Australia failed to finish top of the medal table.

A total of 74 golds in Delhi followed previous hauls of 84, 81, 79 and 87, yet they head home from Glasgow having won just 49 and, worst of all, it is England who have taken their place at the head of the table.

The step backwards is all the more worrying with the next Commonwealth Games to be held on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

But, ever the optimist, Steve Moneghetti, Australia’s chef de mission, has backed the country to regain their “rightful place” at the top of the table in four years’ time


“I think England have performed really well and give credit to them,” he said. “I think they’ve probably achieved higher and we’ve probably achieved about what we expected.

“That gives us a challenge and there were some factors in their favour here that will be in our favour when the Games come to the Gold Coast in four years’ time.

“Whilst our athletes here have performed terrifically well I’m sure there will be great momentum now going to the Gold Coast to make sure we rewrite our rightful place in the sporting battle that is Australia versus England.”

A series of underwhelming performances in the velodrome and swimming pool in the opening few days set the tone for Australia’s worst-ever gymnastics results and their lowest athletics medal haul since 1978.

However, Moneghetti, who says he does not set medal targets, has refused to view his team’s performances in a negative light.

“I am not going to change my line, it’s not about gold medals,” he said. “We can’t control what other countries do. In medal tallies, if other countries go great or countries go bad, our position relative to that doesn’t bother me as long as our athletes are comfortable that they’ve had the chance to give a fair account of themselves.”

As well as multiple disappointments in various sporting arenas, there was plenty of embarrassment away from them.

Athletics Australia has confirmed it is launching a full-scale review after head coach Eric Hollingsworth was sent home for publicly criticising 100  metres hurdler Sally Pearson, who went on to win gold.

Weightlifter Francois Etoundi, who won a bronze medal, also landed himself in trouble when his accreditation was revoked for butting Welsh rival Gareth Evans in the athletes’ village.

Source

One of the more important revelations in the audit of the LifeSport programme was that the persons who were supposed to be the main beneficiaries, the so-called ‘poor, little, black boys’, were receiving a great deal less than the assorted group of contractors and consultants attached to it. A cynic may conclude that the whole thing was set up as a feeding trough for a select few while sport was an afterthought. It would be interesting to hear what percentage of the money given to LifeSport was actually used for the direct benefit of the participants. A similar situation occurs in some international relief programmes where the funding often goes to administrators and officials while the victims get the leftovers.


The original motives for establishing LifeSport may have been noble but early in the game the hustlers and con men saw loopholes in the system and exploited them to the hilt. The extent of the corruption in the programme suggests that there was collusion at several levels while others were guilty of turning a blind eye. For instance, the programme received additional funding every year and this would not normally happen unless there was a thorough review of the activities in the previous year. How thorough were these reviews and did they unearth any of the numerous discrepancies that the audit eventually picked up? In fact the central audit report emphasises that “given the widespread nature of the breaches it is difficult to understand how they went unnoticed”. Who has the responsibility to monitor and ‘notice’ these breaches? In the circumstances the call for a forensic audit is a valid one.


The real tragedy of LifeSport, however, is that it could have been an ideal vehicle for transforming the lives of “poor, little, black boys”. I remember chatting with the legendary Roger Milla many years ago about the impact that the performance of the 1990 Cameroon World Cup team had on young people in Africa. He was adamant that their remarkable success was an inspiration to millions of youngsters across the continent giving them a sense of purpose and the determination to improve their lives. All across the globe there are similar stories about the positive impact of sport on individuals as well as communities.


The United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace has emphasised that “sport has a unique power to attract, mobilise and inspire. By its very nature, sport is about participation. It is about inclusion and citizenship. It stands for human values such as respect for the opponent, acceptance of rules, teamwork and fairness”. And the agency for sport in Scotland (Sportscotland) states that “participating in sport can promote social inclusion, improve health, counter anti-social behaviour and raise individual self-esteem and confidence”.


At the individual level there is no greater evidence of the power of sport than the words of our own CLR James. In his classic ‘Beyond a Boundary’ he wrote, “as soon as we stepped on to the cricket field all was changed. Rapidly we learned to obey the decision of the umpire without question. We learned to play with the team, which meant subordinating your personal interest to the good of the whole. I acquired discipline for which the only name is Puritan. I never cheated. I never jeered at defeated opponents. My defeats and disappointments I took as stoically as I could. This code became the moral framework of my existence. It has never left me.”


It was sport that taught James the virtues of teamwork, self-sacrifice and honesty and they remained with him throughout his life. These are the principles that LifeSport should have emphasised instead of promoting the principles of skulduggery.


Sport has given T&T so much to be proud about from the achievements of the late Rodney Wilkes to the great Hasely Crawford, Dwight Yorke, Brian Lara et al. It is a pity that a programme that had such tremendous potential is now the source of such widespread condemnation. The money earmarked for LifeSport should now be given to the many organisations that are already in the field working in so-called ‘at risk’ communities including Police Youth Clubs. These clubs which were originally set up “to prepare the youth for a positive role in the nation’s development” have tremendous potential but they need financial assistance. There are other honest, hardworking groups and individuals who would be grateful even for the crumbs that fall from the LifeSport plate.


Alarming as they are, the recent revelations may just be the tip of the iceberg. A murder has already been linked to the programme and a contractor has brazenly warned, “anytime I come out… it will shake this place like an earthquake”!

Source

Trinidad and Tobago boxer Michael Alexander is guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games men’s lightweight division.

Alexander outpointed Barbadian Cobia Breedy at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), here in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday to advance to the semi-final round. He will next meet Northern Ireland’s Joe Fitzpatrick for a spot in the final and the opportunity to go for gold. The two losing semi-finalists will be awarded bronze medals.

In a unanimous decision, all three judges scored yesterday’s quarter-final bout 30-27 in favour of Alexander.

At the Tollcross Swimming Centre, George Bovell finished fifth in the men’s 50 metres freestyle final. The T&T swimmer touched the wall in 22.31 seconds. England’s Benjamin Proud clocked 21.92 to take the gold, forcing Australians Cameron McEvoy (22.00) and James Magnussen (22.10) to settle for silver and bronze, respectively.

In athletics, T&T will have full representation in today’s men’s 400m final. Renny Quow will run in lane two, next to Lalonde Gordon, in three, while Jarrin Solomon has been drawn in lane seven.

In yesterday’s semi-final round, at Hampden Park, Gordon produced a strong run on the home straight to win heat three in 45.37 seconds. Solomon clocked 45.49 for second spot in the opening heat, and also advanced automatically. Quow earned his lane as a “fastest loser” after finishing third in heat two in 45.47.

T&T’s Tonya Nero completed her 25 laps of the track in 35 minutes, 48.63 seconds to finish 12th in the women’s 10,000m. Joyce Chepkirui took gold in 32:09.35, getting the better of her Kenya teammate Florence Kiplagat (32:09.48) in a close finish. Another Kenyan, Emily Chebet (32:10.82) bagged bronze.

Competing in cold conditions during yesterday’s opening session, T&T athletes struggled.

Janeil Bellille and Josanne Lucas exited the women’s 400m hurdles, but for different reasons.

Bellille was fourth in heat three in 57.51 seconds. With only the top two in each heat progressing automatically to the eight-woman final, Bellille’s only chance was to get in as a “fastest loser”. Her clocking, however, was not fast enough, the T&T athlete finishing ninth overall.

Lucas was drawn in the opening heat, but was disqualified for a false start. She now switches her attention to the 100m hurdles. The opening round will be contested tomorrow, and the final on Friday.

“Looking forward to it,” Lucas told the Express. “Everything is leading up to the 100-metre hurdles.”

Mikel Thomas finished 10th overall in the qualifying round of the men’s 110m hurdles, missing out on a berth in the final. The T&T hurdler was fourth in heat one in 13.86 seconds—too slow for a “fastest loser” berth.

Thomas’ T&T teammates, Durell Busby and Wayne Davis were non-starters in the sprint hurdles. Team manager George Comissiong told the Express that both athletes are injured. He said an MRI confirmed Davis’ injury ahead of the event, while Busby felt pain while warming up and opted not to face the starter.

Sixteen half-milers qualified for the semifinal round of the men’s 800m. T&T’s Kendis Bullard and Jamaal James were not among them, neither athlete coping well with cold Glasgow.

Running in heat two, Bullard could only manage sixth spot, returning a time of one minute, 51.57 seconds. James enjoyed a better finish in heat four, getting home fourth, but was slower than Bullard, clocking 1:51.62. Both times, however, were too slow for “fastest loser” qualification.

And in the men’s long jump qualifying event, Kyron Blaise fouled all three attempts and was eliminated.

A first half hat-trick from Kwandwane Browne set up a 4-2 victory for T&T’s hockey men in their pool B clash with Malaysia, at the National Hockey Centre. Browne’s three goals all came from penalty corners, the star player scoring in the 12th, 16th and 35th minutes. Mickell Pierre was also on target for T&T, opening the account in the eighth minute.

T&T were 4-1 ahead at the interval. The second half, however, was scoreless up until the final minute of the game, the Malaysians reducing the deficit with seconds left on the clock.

At the SSE Hydro, T&T gymnast William Albert totalled 75.682 to finish 23rd in men’s all-around qualification, earning a spot in the 24-man final. He is the second reserve for the rings final after finishing 11th in qualifying with a score of 14.200.

In table tennis, T&T players Dexter St Louis, Curtis Humphreys, Rheann Chung and Aleena Edwards have qualified for the knockout phase of the singles events.

St Louis won twice, including a 4-2 triumph over Barbadian Kevin Farley to top his preliminary round men’s singles group. Humphreys also recorded two victories to join St Louis in the round of 64.

In the women’s singles, Chung was victorious twice to advance to the round of 64. Edwards, meanwhile, lost to Barbadian Krystle Harvey. However, Edwards beat Jersey’s Kelsey le Maistre, and le Maistre defeated Harvey. With all three players getting a victory, Edwards’ superior record in the group matches earned her a passage to the knockout stage.

At the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), the T&T netballers were crushed 70-24 by England. Joanne Harten singlehandedly outscored T&T, the England goal shoot sinking 35 goals from 43 attempts. For T&T, goal attack Joelisa Cooper shot 81 percent--13 goals from 16 attempts.

At the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre, in Carnoustie, T&T shooters Michael Perez and Norris Gomez finished 26th and 33rd, respectively, in the Queen’s Prize individual event.

And in squash, there were defeats for all the T&T doubles pairs on show at Scotstoun Campus. Colin Ramasra and Kale Wilson lost to a Scottish pair in men’s doubles. Charlotte Knaggs and Kerrie Sample went under to Wales in women’s doubles. And in mixed doubles, Ramasra/Sample and Wilson/Knaggs were beaten by England combinations.

Team T&T Today

(All TT times)

4.30 a.m. – Table tennis, doubles

5.05 a.m. – Athletics, Ayanna Alexander, women’s long jump qualifying

5.09 a.m. – Athletics, Rondel Sorrillo, men’s 200 heats

5.16 a.m. – Athletics, Jereem Richards, men’s 200 heats

6.05 a.m. – Athletics, Deandra Daniel, women’s high jump qualifying

6.05 a.m. – Athletics, Kyle Greaux, men’s 200 heats

6.30 a.m. – Athletics, Jehue Gordon, men’s 400 hurdles heats

6.42 a.m. – Athletics, Emanuel Mayers, men’s 400 hurdles heats

7.00 a.m. – Squash, doubles

7.06 a.m. – Athletics, Alena Brooks, women’s 800 heats

7.56 a.m. – Gymnastics, William Albert, men’s all-around final

12.40 p.m. – Table tennis, women’s singles

After 1.30 p.m. - Boxing, Aaron Prince, men’s middleweight quarterfinal

3.30 p.m. - Athletics, Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon, Renny Quow, men’s 400 final

3.40 p.m. – Athletics, Cleopatra Borel, Annie Alexander, women’s shot put final

4.21 p.m. – Athletics, Reyare Thomas, women’s 200 heats

Source

An established member of her national team for well over a decade, Alena Edwards was the player to catch the eye as proceedings commenced in the second session of the sixth day of play, Tuesday 29th July, at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in the Scotstoun Sports Campus.

She overcame Jersey’s Kelsey Le Maistre in five games (11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4), a player who was in good form. In the opening match in the group she had beaten Krystle Harvey of Barbados by a similar margin (11-9, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9) to the defeat she suffered against the Trinidadian. However, against the strong attacking play and the extra experience of Alena Edwards, the 18 year old Channel Islander on Commonwealth Games debut found life tough.

Games Ratio
A good start for Alena Edwards but it was not a good finish to the day; she was beaten by Krystle Harvey in five games (6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8).

Nevertheless, she could still raise a smile, she finished in first place in the group on games ratio (7:5) with Kelsey Le Maistre in second spot (5:5) and Krystle Harvey third 5:7).

Injury Problems
Success for Alena Edwards and a sense of relief, in recent times she has not enjoyed the best of fortunes; the fact she was able to play positively, especially from the forehand was a good sign.

"In 2007, I got a shoulder injury, I didn't have an operation”, explained Alena Edwards. “I just rest for a few periods; if I play hard and do not have it treated, it would be problematic."

Against Kelsey Le Maistre, there appeared to be no physical problems for the young lady with a bright Caribbean smile who two years ago spent a considerable amount of time helping other without seeking gain or financial reward.

Volunteer in London
She was a volunteer at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

"It was a great experience, I had the opportunity of not being a player, enjoy and watch other people play”, she explained.

A fine start for Aleena Edwards and earlier in the day it had been a fine start for two further tried and trusted members of the Trinidad and Tobago National Team.

Good Start for Renowned Duo
Earlier, both Dexter St. Louis and Rheann Chung had completed their first phase matches successfully and in first places in their respective groups.

Dexter St Louis, now 46 years old and one of the most experienced players on duty in Glasgow showed the form of 2002 Commonwealth Games when in the Men’s Team event he stunned the Manchester crowd by winning both his matches in opposition to England.

In Glasgow, in the opening phase of the Men’s Singles event, he accounted for both Kevin Farley of Barbados (18-16, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8) and Kenya’s Michael Owuo Otieno (11-4, 11-1, 11-3, 11-6).

Straight Games Success
A tough test against Kevin Farley but for Dexter St Louis but there were no such qualms for Rheann Chung, she did not surrender a single game.

She overcame Tanzania’s Neema Dennis Mwaisyula (11-5, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2) and Kaimalie Resture (11-3, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3).

First place in the group for Dexter St. Louis and it was the same for the other leading players on view.

Leading Names Top Groups
In addition to Dexter St. Louis it was first place for Canada’s André Ho and Pierre-Luc Theriault, as it was for Marios Yiangou of Cyprus, Australia’s David Powell and Malaysia’s Muhd Shakirin Ibraham. Likewise New Zealand’s Liu Tengteng and Phillip Xiao secured top spots in their groups.

First places for the top eight names on first stage Men’s Singles duty; it was the same for the women.

Alongside Rheann Chung it was pole position for England’s Tin-Tin Ho and Charlotte Carey of Wales, as it was for the Nigerian trio of Offiong Edem, Cecilia Akpan and Ganiat Ogundele.

Not to be left out New Zealand’s Annie Yang and Northern Ireland’s Amanda Mogey secured first places in their groups.

Main Draw
Play in the first and second rounds of the Women’s Singles event commences on Wednesday 30th July; for the Men’s Singles competition it is one day later, Thursday 31st July.

The top 16 men and top 16 women enter proceedings in round two.

Source

Another Commonwealth medal for T&T jumper

Ayanna Alexander has joined the club—Trinidad and Tobago’s Commonwealth Games multiple-medallist club.

Alexander chose just the right occasion to produce her best 2014 effort, the 32-year-old athlete disturbing the sand at 14.01 metres to strike bronze in the women’s triple jump, at Hampden Park here in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.

“It feels great,” Alexander told the Express. “As always, there’s adversity here and there. Four months ago, I couldn’t walk. I’ve been bouncing back from an ankle injury. The plan was always to come here, and come back strong.”

It was a strong showing indeed, Alexander’s superb performance earning her membership in an elite club, alongside some of the biggest names in T&T sporting history.

Sprinter Edwin Roberts is the “president” of the club with five Commonwealth Games medals, captured at the 1966 and 1970 editions. Hasely Crawford, Kent Bernard and shooter Roger Daniel have three each, while eight athletes have achieved two podium finishes, for a total of 12 club members.

Ahead of the 2014 Games, Roger Gibbon, Leslie King, Rodney Wilkes, Brandon Bailey, Wendell Mottley, Benedict Cayenne and Cleopatra Borel were the double medallists. Alexander is the newbie, adding yesterday’s bronze to the silver she had earned in the same event at the 2010 Games in Delhi, India.

Afterwards, T&T’s first medallist here at Glasgow 2014 took a victory run on the back straight with the Red, White and Black blowing behind her. She then joined Jamaican gold medallist Kimberly Williams (14.21m) and English silver medallist Laura Samuel (14.09m) for a spirited victory lap.

“When I got silver in Delhi,” said Alexander, “I didn’t have a flag when the competition was finished. So this was the first time being able to experience taking a victory lap having a T&T flag draped around me. It was a really indescribable moment for me because I feel I was deprived of that in Delhi.

“I got a silver medal there,” she continued, “but just the whole overall feeling of being able to come back, knowing where I came from at the beginning of the season…I was probably counted out. I just thank God. I’m grateful to come and represent T&T another time at Commonwealth Games.”

Alexander endured the cold weather here in Glasgow, brushing aside the 16-degree Celsius conditions to put together a solid series of jumps—13.54m, 13.75m, 13.99m, a wind-assisted 13.53m, 14.01m, and finally, 13.77m.

Alexander and Borel are the only female members of the country’s multi-medallist club. In fact, they are the only women from T&T to have earned precious metal at the Commonwealth Games.

But Alexander is not satisfied. She wants to climb the podium at both the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Alexander knows medal success on the global stage does not come easily, and without calling names, she sent out a strong message to the powers that be.

“I’m hearing that people want medals, so the goal is to get on that podium. I hope the plan is in place to help get me there.”

In the words of Jesus, in Matthew 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Source

Trinidad and Tobago's Michael Alexander and Aaron Prince have both reached the quarter finals of their respective weight divisions at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,

Alexander will face Barbadian C Breedy tonight (Tuesday) at 7.00 pm UK time in the men's  lightweight (65kg)division.Alexander is ranked 15th in the world by the World Boxing Association.In 2013 he won bronze at the Pan Am Championships in Chile,and in 2014,bronze at the Giraldo Cordova  Cardin International Tournament in Cuba.This is his first Commonwealth Games.

 

Prince,fighting in the men's middleweight (75 kg)division,will meet V Vijender of India tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 8.30 pm.Prince was a bronze medallist at the 2010 CAC Games.This is his second Commonwealth Games.

 

Coaches Reynold Cox and Floyde Trumpet both expect their charges to go all the way to the finals.

Ken Jaikaransingh

T&T Gymnast William Albert arrived at the village last  Tuesday morning
and is hard at work.  He did a light workout on Tuesday just after
checking in to overcome the jet lag.

During Wednesday and Thursday's training he was able to do his full
routines on all six events with no major faults. He looks
exceptionally well prepared as he went through his workout making
minor adjustments as he feels out the GymNova equipment which is new
to him.

He expects to  have all the kinks ironed out come Monday when he
begins his competition at the SSE Hydro Arena, start time 1:30pm, UK
time .

Meanwhile,in squash,Kale Wilson defeated   lefty  Daniel Zammit-Lewis
from Malta 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9.

The see-saw encounter was determined in the crucial 5th game.Wilson
stamped his authority on the match by going ahead 10-4, but then
suddenly Zammit-Lewis was managing  to keep every ball in play.

Wilson was forced to really earn the match and although he made a
couple of  unforced errors, the initial lead was too large. He finally
took the match at 10-9 , a long gruelling rally ending in a winning
drive by Wilson

Later,in a much-anticipated match between two rival Caribbean players
Wilson also  defeated  Bruce Burrowes of Jamaica 9-11, 11-5, 6-11,
11-6, 11-6 .

In the first game, the play was a bit high-paced but very scrappy.
Close to the end of the game, some  bad choices and errors turned the
game in favour of the Jamaican who closed it off 11-9

In the second, Wilson was never in trouble and won the game 11-5,but
Burrowes  broke away and won the 3rd game 11-6.The final two games
were almost identical. Wilson played a tremendously patient  game,and
was in command for the 4th and 5th games winning 11-6, 11-6 to take
the match 3-2.

In the women’s squash  tournament,Charlotte Knaggs defeated Colette
Sultana  who withdrew due to injury,but then lost to Anaka Alankamony
(IND) 4-11, 6-11, 7-11.

Knaggs had a slow start but eventually tightened up her shots a bit
after losing the first game 11-4. She began to create some chances
with her pace and her opponent made a few unforced errors.

However, Alankamony’s short game was just a bit too strong.
She soon began to raise her game and took advantage of any loose ball
that set up an opening. Knaggs was doing a lot of running but was
retrieving well to stay in the points. Despite Knagg's persistence and
a few well-structured points and winning shots, the Indian #3 for
their team proved to be the better player.

Kale Wilson now advances to the men’s plate quarter-final  against
Hardeep Reel from Kenya.



END

Both T&T's Men's and Women's hockey teams lost their pool games against
their respective New Zealand opponents at the Commonwealth
games,Glasgow.

On Friday evening,a fit and finely tuned New Zealand women's team took
advantage of the youth,inexperience and inadequacies of our women to
hand out a 14-0 thrashing. Seven goals were scored on either side of
the half. New Zealand forced 12 penalty corners, resulting in 4 of their
total, while T&T could only muster one in reply.

On Saturday morning,T &T's Men's team could muster nothing like the
energy they showed against England in their previous game,albeit in a
losing cause. New Zealand clobbered T&T 8-0,with 4 goals in each
half.Three of NZ's goals came directly from penalty corners, while
another three resulted from rebounds.T&T were unable to force a single
penalty corner in the game,and the NZ goalkeeper was not called upon
to make a single save.

Both teams face Canada's women and men on Sunday 27,hoping for better results.


END

...Cedenio dominates 400m heats

T&T’s two highly rated 4x100m relay teams will attempt to book a spot in tomorrow’s semifinals, at the IAAF World Junior Championships, in Eugene, Oregon, when they contest the women and men’s heats from 9.05 pm today.

The two relay heats will following individual performances from Shakiel Waithe and Akila Mc Shine, who will line-up in the preliminaries of the men’s javelin and the girls’ 100m hurdles.

McShine, whose personal best stands at 13.91 seconds will line up in heat five at approximately 2 pm. then at around 3.45 pm, Shackiel Waithe, whose season best of 72.75m (fifth best in the line-up) will attempt to qualify out of the preliminaries with the intention of attaining success similar to Keshorn Walcott, who won gold two years ago.

T&T’s men’s 4x100m relay team (Jonathan Farinha, John Mark Constantine, Holland Cabare, Micah Ballantyne, Akanni Hislop and Aaron Lewis), is expected to run its first heat just after 9.40 pm, following the girls’ attempt at the same distance. The girls’ .team includes Zakiya Denoon, Aaliyah Telesford, Kayelle Clarke, Mauricia Preito and Trishelle Leacock.

Successful teams will advance directly to the final carded for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, action on Wednesday night saw Jonathan Farinha, one of T&T’s best prospects at precious metal finish eighth from as many athletes in the Men’s 100m final. He clocked 10.47 seconds. American pair Kendal Williams and Trayvon Bromell took a top-two finish in 10.21 and 10.28 seconds, respectively. He returned to action in the 200m heats, yesterday afternoon where he placed 11th overall with a 21.11 mark.

The semifinals were carded for 9.40 pm. The final will run at 11.10 tonight.

T&T’s junior world leading 400m runner, Machel Cedenio, had a strong performance as he blistered in the heats to qualify easily for last night’s 400m semifinal. Cedenio clocked 45.90 seconds, while USA’s Tyler Brown and Alexander Sampao of Kenya ran 45.97 and 46.21 seconds as the second and third fastest qualifiers, respectively.

The men’s 400m final ran after press time last night. Ruebin Walters, who ran the seventh fastest time overall in the men’s 110m hurdles semifinals, also contested the final after press time. He ran 13.61 seconds in the semifinal, after running 13.76 in the heats.

Source

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Jonathan Farinha finished eighth in the Men’s 100m final Wednesday night when the second night of the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships continued in Eugene, Oregon.

Farinha, running out of lane seven, was last across the line in 10.47 in a race won by USA’s Kendall Williams in a personal best of 10.21.

That was an upset as Williams’ compatriot, pre-Games favourite and current world junior record holder Trayvon Bromwell  could only clinch silver in 10.28 with Japan’s Asian junior record-holder Yoshihide Kiryu  taking the bronze in 10.34.

Barbados’ Levi Cadogan was fourth (10.39), Antigua’s Cejhae Greene fifth (10.43), Great Britain’s Ojie Eduburun sixth (10.45) and Canada’s Andre Azonwanna seventh (10.46) in a competitive and close final. Bromwell would have been disappointed as the University of Baylor freshman ran a 9.97 world record at this same track back in June at the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Track and Field Championships.

After press time last night, two other male T&T athletes were scheduled to take part in finals.

The one with the best medal chance was T&T’s Machel Cedenio.

On Wednesday, Cedenio topped the field in the last semi-final, heat  three, to advance to the final in 45.90 ahead of Lamar Bruton-Grimmage in 46.67. Cedenio’s time was the fastest out of the semi-finals.

In the Men’s 110m hurdles , Reubin Walters earned a final spot as the second of the two fastest losers.

He was fourth in his semi-final heat two of three in 13.61 behind GBR’s David Omoregie 13.36, France’s Benjamin Sedecias (13.45) and Spain’s Franciso Lopez (13.55)

Also after press time last night, Farinha was trying to rebound with a better showing in the Men’s 200m semi-final heats.

In the heats, Farinha qualified easily for the semi-final round,  winning heat six of nine in 21.11 ahead of Brazil’s Vitor Hugo Dos Santos in 21.33

And T&T’s female representative in the 200m, Kayelle Clarke also moved on to the semi-final round when she was second in heat four of seven in 24.00,  a heat won by USA’ s Jada Martin (23.62)

On Wednesday, in the women’s 100m semi-final T&T’s Zakiya Denoon and Aaliyah Telesford both finished seventh in their semi-final heats one and three respectively and failed to advance to the final. Denoon stopped the clock in 12.13 while Telesford clocked 11.94.

Source

The TT Rugby Sevens team has been warming up for Glasgow 2014 with a
series of practice matches.At the pre-Games camp at Strathallan
School,TT played two games Perthshire Rugby Club ,winning both. The
T&T team  later won two out of three games played against Falkirk
Rugby Club.

“These games were crucial as they offered us the opportunity to test
our attacking and defensive structures” said National Coach Larry
Mendez. “We relished the opportunity to play unknown and skilful
opposition, to test our own reaction and preparedness” .

“We are very grateful to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee for
having the foresight to organise such a camp” said Manager Curtis
Nero. “It gave us the opportunity to not only acclimatise, but to
train together and promote team bonding which is so vital in team
sports” .

The team entered the Games Village on 13 July where  the programme
continued, with modifications for peaking, particularly in gym work.

Pre-competition games included a scrimmage session against Papua New
Guinea (PNG) on Thursday 17th July. “A scrimmage is a semi-controlled
game,” explained coach Mendez, “in which we agree to go live on scrums
and lineouts, but only smother tackle in open field. The controlled
game is meant to minimise potential injury by reducing the incidence
of contact".

In the two games played against PNG, T&T won the first 10 points to 5
(no conversions taken), while  the other was drawn 15 points each.

T&T had another scrimmage against Uganda on Saturday 19th in miserable
rainy weather . Uganda won the first in the first 5 points to 15, but
T&T  stormed back to take the second 15 points to 10.

Two scrimmages  were played and lost against Canada, 10 points to 15
and 5 points to 15

“I am really pleased with our defensive structures displayed in the
game against Canada,” said Assistant Coach Dale Trotman. “Despite the
loss, there were some good points we can build on as well as things we
need to fix. We need to press home our attacking advantages by
reacting quicker after creating the gaps. Improved communication on
the field will help.”

“We are pleased with the leadership and high quality of play being
shown by captain Joseph Quashie and Jesse Richards’ play so far has
been tremendous and an inspiration to the team,” says manager Curtis
Nero.” Individuals are beginning to step up now and we are seeing good
team play. The challenge is to maintain that focus for the duration of
the game. That is our challenge .”

END

Most of Trinidad and Tobago’s track & field contingent is now in the Games Village at Glasgow..

 

On Sunday night, Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon, Renny Quow, Keston Bledman and Cleopatra Borel joined their colleagues in the residences.. Early Monday morning), Janeil Bellile and Shawna Fermin entered the Village.

 

Two more athletes - young Machel Cedenio ,who is attending the IAAF World Juniors in Eugene, Oregon and Akeem Stewart, who will compete in both the Men's Shot Put and Discus ,have been called up for national duty. They will both join the team shortly.

 

For the first time, Trinidad and Tobago will be represented in all four sprint relays at the Commonwealth Games. Based on the success achieved at the recent IAAF World Relay Championships in Bahamas, much is expected of the relay teams.

 

In the Bahamas, both our 4X100m women  and the 4X400m men took bronze, while  our 4X100m men  earned silver. The  women's 4X400m team finished ninth overall. The medal won by the women's team is the first relay medal to be won by a  T&T women's team at the international level.

 

One major coincidence was that Trinidad and Tobago women's 4X100m clinched 3rd place by defeating Nigeria by 0.01 seconds, but in the women's 4X400m the tables were turned when the Nigerians denied our country of a spot in final by the same margin of 0.01 seconds

 

This morning most of the athletes were down at the Hampden Stadium going through their paces under the watchful eyes of the coaches and the medical team.  Track and field competition begins later this week in the various events

.

Meanwhile, table-tennis representatives  Dexter St Louis and Rheann Chung arrived at the Games Village  having performed very creditably at the Pan-Am festival in Mexico.Dexter made it to the round of 16 . Rheann lost 3-4 in the semi final to secure bronze.

 

Table-tennis playing journalist Kwame Lawrence  arrived at Glasgow Monday morning, and was scheduled to practise with Yuvraj Dookram and Catherine Spicer later that afternoon. Lawrence’s unique style will help Spicer  adjust to several playing styles at the games.

 

END

“It’s our biggest representation ever at one of these games. The demands on our staff are enormous and actual competition is still to begin!”

 

Dr Terry Ali, one of three doctors assigned to the Commonwealth Games, said he and other members of this country’s medical and therapeutic staff have had their hands full even before Wednesday’s start to the Commonwealth Games.

 

Along with Dr Ali, assisting T&T’s 129-athlete contingent in Glasgow, Scotland are doctors Anil Gopiesingh and Zynul Khan. Three physiotherapists and six massage therapists are also part of the team, which have felt their share of responsibility for the team’s preparations particularly last Saturday where they worked without a break from early morning to midnight.

 

News coming out of the camp is that T&T has been fortunate having no current major injury or illness scares.

 

A mini outbreak of flu-like symptoms that have affected around 12 Scottish Commonwealth Games assistants have not affected any member of the T&T contingent.

 

There have also been no positive drug tests within the T&T camp. Officials of the Commonwealth Games have adopted a rigorous approach to random drug testing on a round-the-clock bases.

 

They often come as an inconvenience to the athletes and management, according to chef-de-mission Ian Hypolite, who gave insight into the processes of drug testing. “It has annoyed a few people, but we must realise that this is now a serious business. Our contingent is party to a ‘whereabouts policy’, which means that our athletes must be at a certain location at a given time for possible drug testing. If they are not, they are searched out and tested wherever they are.”

 

Athletes may also be selected at random in the dining areas or at training, apart from the usual practice of post-competition testing.

Source

Trinidad and Tobago's contingent is now almost at full strength three
days before the start of the twentieth Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow,Scotland. Njisane Phillips,George Bovell III,Jehue
Gordon,Keshorn Walcott and Richard Thompson are some of T&T's marquee
names already in residence.

The bulk of our table-tennis contingent flies in from Mexico on
Tuesday,and swing into action almost immediately.

Triathlon athletes David Cottle and Andreas Stuven both arrived on
separate flights on Saturday night. David went for a light pool
training on Sunday morning while Andreas organized logistics for bike
and course familiarization.

Technical meetings for all athletes and managers begin Monday 21
June,where among other things,ahtletes' equipment will be tested for
conformity to competition regulations.

END

Jarrin Solomon joined the sub-45 club yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler clocking a personal best 44.98 seconds to grab gold in the men’s 400 metres event, at the KBC Night of Athletics meet, in Belgium.

Solomon forced American Manteo Mitchell to settle for silver in 45.12 seconds, while third spot went to hometown hero Jonathan Borlee (45.37).

With the 44.98 run, Solomon became the tenth T&T athlete to dive under 45 seconds in the one-lap event.

National record holder Ian Morris is at the top of the list at 44.21 seconds. Deon Lendore is second with a 44.36 run. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, Lalonde Gordon is third at 44.52, while 2009 World Championship bronze medallist Renny Quow is at number four with a 44.53 run.

Patrick Delice is next on the list at 44.58, ahead of 1964 Olympic silver medallist Wendell Mottley (44.82), Alvin Daniel (44.84), Ato Stephens (44.87), Mike Paul (44.88) and Solomon (44.98).

Keston Bledman was also on show at the KBC Night of Athletics meet. The T&T sprinter finished third in the men’s 100m dash. American Marvin Bracy was first to the line in 10.13, while silver was seized by former world record holder Asafa Powell, the Jamaican getting home in 10.15.

At the Meeting Madrid 2014, in Spain, Quow picked up silver in the men’s 400m, the T&T quartermiler completing his lap of the track in 45.36 seconds. Bahamian Latoy Williams clocked 45.17 to top the field, while bronze was bagged by American Kyle Clemons (45.37).

And T&T’s Wayne Davis II finished third in the men’s 110m hurdles in a wind-assisted 13.34 seconds. The top two spots went to American Aleec Harris (13.18) and Barbadian Shane Brathwaite (13.32).

Solomon, Bledman, Quow, Davis, Lendore and Gordon are all expected to wear T&T colours at the July23-August 3 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Source

“I am not looking to the usual and traditional medal suspects for success at this games, but from others who will grasp this opportunity to be successful and make T&T proud,” said Brian Lewis, president of the T&T Commonwealth Games Committee. The 2014 Commonwealth Games begins in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday. Lewis said athletes in all disciplines must perform at levels that would boost national fervour, while providing citizens with evidence that T&T have grown as a truly dynamic sporting nation.

Team sports would face the biggest hurdles in pursuit of winning medals, but individual athletes outside of track and field, swimming, cycling and boxing could produce new champions for the nation. Judo, gymnastics, table tennis, squash and triathlon were ready to evolve from being considered minor sports locally, to becoming major disciplines, with consistent achievers on the global sporting stage. Christopher George was the lone athlete for judo, while Marissa Dick, Khazia Hislop and William Albert were representing gymnastics. Like George, David Cottle was a one-man team in triathlon, while table tennis veteran Dexter St Louis leads a group that includes Curtis Humphreys, Aaron Wilson, Yuvraj Dookram, Rheann Chung, Ashley Quashie, Aleena Edwards and Catherine Spicer.

Colin Ramasra, Kale Wilson, Kerrie Sample and Charlotte Knaggs were representing squash. “It is time for judo to rise. For the first time at Commonwealth Games we have an athlete for judo. 
“He is Christopher George, who is no stranger to national duty having represented T&T at the junior and senior levels in the sport of water polo. “He has made the switch to the sport of judo and his objectives and goals are to qualify for Rio 2016 (Olympic Games) which would be a first for judo. “Most of the attention, understandably, in the context of our medal hopefuls are in track and field, swimming cycling and boxing–Michael Alexander and Aaron Prince–outside of the team sports, which will be facing some tough hurdle. “The Commonwealth Games, as much as it is good games in its own right, forms a key part to the journey to Rio 2016.

“Realistically, we will be paying close attention to newcomers to see how they compete with the higher level of competition, outside of the Caribbean. “In November, we have the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games where we would expect the team sports to have definite medal potential. “What we would want to see in Scotland is a very competitive effort and signs of significant improvement in terms of fitness and target projection, as well look to CAC and Pan American Games and the Rio. “So I am saying that the sports such as judo, which we have not been represented in at the continental level under the Olympic Committee, we will be paying close attention to them. It would be very interesting to see how George comes along.”

Source

The T&T girls team had to settle for silver at the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (Casa) Championships in Bermuda, as top-ranked Guyana proved too strong in the best-of-five final series, yesterday. Guyana edged fourth-ranked T&T 3-2 behind wins from Makeda Harding, Taylor Fernandes and Victoria Arjoon. Alexandria Yearwood and Charlotte Knaggs snatched consolation wins for T&T.

In the Under-13 category, Harding eased past T&T’s Jinan Al Rawi 11-4, 11-3, 11-0. Fernandes (U-17) and Arjoon (U-19) also won in straight sets defeating Faith Gillezeau and Marie-Claire Barcant, respectively. In another U-19 match, Knaggs continued her domination in the tournament outlasting Akela Wiltshire 11-8, 11-8, 11-9. On Tuesday, Knaggs got the better of Wiltshire in the girls U-19 singles final in four sets. Yearwood needed four sets to get past Rebeeca Low, prevailing 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5.

 

The T&T boys also ranked fourth, ended the tournament on a high defeating third-ranked Barbados 3-2 in the third-place play-off. T&T won both matches in the U-19 category with Christian Edghill and Nku Patrick both recording straight set victories. Chad Salandy sealed bronze for T&T in the U-17 category with a four-set win over Benjamin Griffin. Christopher Anthony and Nicholas Caddle were on the losing end for T&T. Team T&T will return home tomorrow, except for Knaggs who will travel to Glasgow, Scotland, to represent T&T at the Commonwealth Games from July 23–August 3.

 

Results

Girls final: Guyana def T&T 3-2

Under-13: Makeda Harding (GUY) def Jinan Al Rawi (T&T) 11-4, 11-3, 11-0
U-15: Alexandria Yearwood (T&T) def Rebecca Low (GUY) 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5
U-17: Taylor Fernandes (GUY) def Faith Gillezeau (T&T) 11-9, 11-5, 11-3
U-19: Victoria Arjoon (GUY) def Marie-Claire Barcant (T&T) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7
U-19: Charlotte Knaggs (T&T) def Akela Wiltshire (GUY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9

Boys 3rd/4th place playoff: T&T def Barbados 3-2

U-13: Khamal Cumberbatch (BAR) def Christopher Anthony (T&T) 11-0, 11-1, 11-4
U-15: Josiah Griffith (BAR) def Nicholas Caddle (T&T) 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
U-17: Chad Salandy (T&T) def Benjamin Griffith (BAR) 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-0
U-19: Christian Edghill (T&T) def Dean Straker (BAR) 11-6, 11-3, 11-8
U-19: Nku Patrick (T&T) def Stewart St John (BAR) 11-3, 13-11, 11-9

Source

T&T’s 22-athlete contingent is expected to touch down in Eugene, Oregon, at around midday today,  ahead of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Junior Championships, which will take place in the same city from Tuesday to Sunday. The team was scheduled to depart T&T just after 12.20 am, two days before the start of competition. According to management, there has been no cause for concern over the fitness of any of the athletes thus far and several are in prime form to capture precious metal, including the world’s top-ranked 400m sprinter in his class, Machel Cedenio.

Dexter Voisin, the team’s head coach tipped Cedenio, a multiple CAC and Carifta gold medallist, and this country’s 4x100m girls’ and boys’ teams for success. Cedenio is also included in the 4x400m boys’ relay team. “The present athletes started campaigning since the Carifta Games before they went onto the CAC Games, where they had the opportunity to assess themselves. In a sense it gave them the chance to gauge their performances,” said Voisin. “Their current rankings could speak for their expectations. The 4x100 relay teams, the boys and girls are expected to do well based on their rankings, and some of the individuals, like Shakeil Waithe (javelin) but nothing is cast in stone. Remember, some of the European teams do not get to train together like we do, so that would affect the standings.”

Voisin said while many will focus their attention on the Commonwealth Games, local athletics fans should tune in to witness the potential successes of a highly talented crop of players. The Commonwealth Games will start on Wednesday and close on August 3, in Glasgow, Scotland. The girls 4x100m relay team comprises Zakiya Denoon, Aaliyah Telesford, Kayelle Clarke, Mauricia Prieto and Trishelle Leacock, while the boys equivalent includes Jonathan Farinha, John Mark Constantine, Holland Cabare, Micah Ballantyne, Akanni Hislop, Aaron Lewis. Voisin also suggested that Farinha (boys 100m and 200m) may be in line for a medal. He is ranked 9th and 13th in the two distances, respectively.

T&T TEAM

Girls
100m—Zakiya Denoon, Aaliyah Telesford
200m—Kayelle Clarke
100m hurdles—Akila McShine
Shot put—Portious Warren

Relay Pool
4x100m—Zakiya Denoon, Aaliyah Telesford, Kayelle Clarke, Mauricia Prieto, Trishelle Leacock

Boys
100m—John Mark Constantine, Jonathan Farinha
200m—Jonathan Farinha
400m—Asa Guevara, Machel Cedenio
800m—Nicholas Landeau
110m hurdles—Aaron Lewis, Ruebin Walters
Javelin—Shackeil Waithe

Relay Pools
4x100m—Jonathan Farinha, John Mark Constantine, Holland Cabare, Micah Ballantyne, Akanni Hislop, Aaron Lewis.

4x400m—Machel Cedenio, Asa Guevara, Odel James, Breon Mullings, Nathan Farinha, Ruebin Walters

Officials
Jim Clarke (manager), Dexter Voisin (head coach), Charles Joseph (sprints coach), Kerron Brown (throws coach), Althea Busby (sprints, hurdles coach), Shurlan Bonas (massage therapist).

Source