Olympic selectees Jamol James and Sparkle McKnight will lead T&T’s 12-member contingent to the 2012 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships set to get underway in Irapuato, Mexico later today. James will contest the men’s 100m event along with Shermund Allsop. The Memphis/University of Tennessee sprinter was sixth at last month’s Sagicor/NGC National Championships on in the men’s 100m in a personal best of 10.17 seconds while Allsop (Concorde/LSU) won the B finals in 10.29. James and McKnight (Neon Trackers) will line up in the women’s 400m. The University of Arkansas-bound athlete took the national one-lap title with a personal best of 52.44 and will be aiming at the Olympic A standard of 52.35.
She will be joined by Shawna Fermin (Memphis/Washington State University) in the events. The meet ends on Sunday. The first athlete to be in action will be Hilenn James (GC Striders/Georgia University) who will do battle in the women’s shot put set for later this afternoon. The men’s 100m (semifinals and finals), men’s discus, women’s 400m (semifinals). At the 2010 edition of the meet in Florida, USA, T&T won three bronze medals, courtesy Garvyn Nero (men’s 800m), Caleigh Bacchus (women’s high jump) and the men’s 4X400m team).
NACAC under-23 contingent
Men
Jamol James (Memphis)-100m, 4X100, Shermund Allsop (Concorde)-100m, 4X100m, Moriba (Simplex)-200/4X100, Kevin Haynes (TTDF)-200m, 4X100m, Quincy Wilson (Rebirth)-Discus, Joel Dillon (Simplex)-4X100m.
Women
Sparkle McKnight (Neon Trackers)-400m, 4X400m, Shawna Fermin (Memphis)-400m,4x400m, Ashlee Smith (D’Abadie Progressive)-discus, Hilenn James (G.C. Striders)-Shot put, discus, Aleena Brooks (Memphis)-4X400m, Jessica James (Neon Trackers)-4X400m.
Officials
Durly Lucas (Manager), Ken Barton (coach), Wade Franklyn (coach), Althea Busby (coach) and Brent Elder (medical).
Source: www.guardian.co.tt