Lalonde Gordon is hoping to build on his double Olympic bronze success. The New York based quarter miler was third in the men’s 400m finals at the London Olympics in August in a personal best time of 44.52 and then led the national men’s 4x400m team to another bronze in a national record of 3:59.40.
Gordon is looking forward to competing in his first World Outdoor Championships in Moscow, Russia  next year from August 10:18 and is going for gold. “I can’t wait for Moscow. I just want to go out there and do what I did at the Olympics.
“This time I want gold for my country. I am looking forward to doing some damage in Moscow.”  The lanky sprinter is also hoping go run under 44 seconds. “My mind is set on running sub:44 seconds in the 400m and I’m going for it this season.”
The 2010 CAC Games/2011 CAC Senior Championships mile relay medallist is hoping to be stronger in Moscow. “Last year I started my season in December; and at the Olympics my body felt tired. 2013 I will start my season in March.  I will be stronger for the World Championship where I’m looking to go 43’s in the 400m.”
The 2010 Commonwealth semifinalist said his training is on schedule. “Training is going very good. I just started doing some strength work and some jogging.”  He is crediting coach Trevor Greene and the staff af the Zenith Velocity Track Club in New York for his success in 2012. “They did a great job. The coaching staff did a really good job pushing us in training to do our best not just on the track but also off the track.”
Green praised Gordon for his role in the club. “Lalonde is a talent and he’s an integral part of our plans for 2013.”
The 24:year:old is coming off a phenomenal year which began with a bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in March. Gordon, Jereem Richard, Jarrin Solomon and Renny
Quow combined to take third in the men’s 4x400m finals in a national record of 3:06.85. “We didn’t have a strong team, as we had a junior running on one of the legs,” Gordon said. He ended the indoor season with personal bests of 20.58 in the 200m (3rd fastest in the world) and 46.43 in the 400m (29th in the world).
The Lowlands:born athlete also improved his outdoor times to 20.62 in the 200m and 45.33 before the national championships in June where he won the one lap title in 45.40, missing out the Olympic qualifying mark of 45.30.
However, at the US Club Championships in Nebraska, USA in July, Gordon sped to to double gold taking the 200m in 20.63 (0.01 off his personal best) and then the 400m in a commanding victory lowering his best mark to 45.02 and book his spot in the individual 400m on the national Olympic team.
In his first Olympics Gordon advanced to the semifinals setting another personal best of 44.58 and in the finals he grabbed bronze in 44.52. “I still can’t believe it happened,” he said.
Gordon then led off the 4x400m T&T team which also included Somolon, Ade Alleyne:Forte and Deon Lendore to win bronze. “Those guys are wonderful. I really enjoy running with them. After I medalled in the 400m, we decided that we’re going out there to win a medal in the 4×4 and to make our country proud,” Gordon said.
“It feels great to be recognised by my country and I thank my family both in New York and Trinidad (and Tobago) for supporting me.”
By Clayton Clarke
Source: www.guardian.co.tt