Source: Gary Acosta

www.cyclingnews.com

Trinidad and Tobago earned their first medal at the 2011 Pan American Cycling Championships today when Njisane Phillip placed third (3rd) in the Men’s Sprints after he defeated Christian Tamayo (Colombia) in two straight rides.

Due to the inclement weather on Day 3 of the competition, Day 4’s morning session saw the majority of the previous night’s races being stuffed into its schedule. This lead to an action packed 6 hour morning session with five (5) Trinidadians taking to the track; Njisane Phillip (Sprints, Keirin), Haseem Mclean (Keirin), Adam Alexander (Omnium) and both Varun Maharaj & Joshua Alexander in the 40 Laps Points Race.

The morning started with Varun Maharaj in the 10km Points Race Heat, which saw the young Trinidadian qualifying for his first Senior Pan American Cycling Championship final, joining his compatriot, Joshua Alexander. Even with the duo in the same race, neither was capable to grab points in the 160 Lap Final, with Maharaj finishing in 16th and Alexander (J) in 20th.

Phillip took to the track in a must win 2nd ride in his semi-final match-up against Hersony Canelon of Venezuela. The 2011 Easter International Grand Prix Match Sprint Champion however, could not turn his luck around this time as the Venezuelan took the match in two straight rides. Phillip had one final chance to obtain a medal in the Sprints when he faced hometown favourite and the quickest qualifier in the Flying 200m, Chrisitian Tamayo. He easily dispatched Tamayo in two straight rides and deservedly stepped on the podium for the first time in the Championships.

Earlier in the morning, Alexander (A) crashed during the Omnium’s 4th event, Elimination and consequently was disqualified from the rest of the Omnium events.

The final entrant for the day saw Haseem Mclean in the 2nd heat of the Keirin - 1st round. Mclean was unable to advance past the first round after finishing 3rd in his heat and then 2nd in the repercharge just behind Sprints silver medalist, Jimmy Watkins (USA).

Fresh off of his Bronze medal capture, Phillip once again faced the starter’s orders for the Keirin 3rd Heat – 1st Round, which he won, guaranteeing him an automatic advance to the 2nd round.

The Siparia boy failed to advance any further though, after he finished 4th in his semi-final heat that boasted 2011 Pan Am Sprint Gold and Silver medalist and 2010 Pan Am Sprint Gold medalist. Njisane won the 7-12 final to take the 7th place and brought an end to a successful, long and tiring Day 4 for the young Trinidadian.

Tomorrow will see T&T participate in one event, two representatives will race against the clock in the Kilometre Time Trial, which starts at 8:00pm (TT Time).