Source: www.trinidadexpress.com
By: Kwame Laurence
Cleopatra Borel earned silver in the women's shot put, at an international track and field meet, in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday.
The Trinidad and Tobago thrower produced an 18.73 metres effort to secure the runner-up spot, behind Cuban Misleydis González (19.04m). Chile's Natalia Ducó (17.28m) finished third.
Borel has been in fine form this season, throwing 19 metres or more in three of her eight outings.
The US-based field athlete opened her 2011 campaign on May 11 with a 19.17m throw in Fortaleza, Brazil, the impressive effort earning her gold. Four days later, she was victorious in Belem, Brazil with an 18.68m effort.
In late May, Borel threw the iron ball 18.28m to finish second at an IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Challenge meet, in Dakar, Senegal. She followed up in early June with an 18.85m effort at the Prefontaine Classic, in Oregon, USA, the throw earning her third spot.
On July 8, at the Meeting Areva, in Paris, France, Borel produced a 19.42m heave--the second best throw of her career and her best outdoors. She finished fourth.
Last Sunday, Borel threw 19.00m to triumph at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Track and Field Championships, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. That gold was her fifth CAC Championship medal. She earned silver in 2003 and 2005, gold in 2008, and bronze in 2009.
On Thursday, just four days after her CAC success, Borel was back in action, at the Spitzen international meet, in Lucerne, Switzerland. She copped fourth spot with an 18.74m throw.
And one day later, Borel was in Barcelona, Spain, picking up silver.