Machel Cedenio and his Trinidad and Tobago teammates, Mark London and Chelsea James were on fire on the opening day of Carifta 2013, here in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday.
Cedenio scorched the track in a personal best 45.93 seconds to claim the boys’ under-20 400 metres title.
The runner-up in 2012, Cedenio turned silver into gold with a sizzling finish. Coming off the final turn, the T&T quartermiler trailed Jamaican Jovan Francis and Bahamian Stephen Newbold. Cedenio had a lot of ground to make up and seemed destined for bronze. But he never gave up, powering his way home and leaning desperately at the line to shock the screaming home fans. Francis picked up silver in 46.00, while Newbold was forced to settle for bronze in 46.01.
T&T’s Asa Guevara was fifth in 47.93 seconds.
London, the 2012 boys’ under-20 800m gold medallist, captured the boys’ under-20 1500m title, while James repeated as girls’ under-17 shot put champion.
London ran a strategic race, staying close to the front until the time was right to make his move. With 200 metres to go, the Tobago runner kicked for home, leaving the field for dead.
London got home in four minutes, 01.07 seconds. St Lucia’s Marbeq Edgar picked up silver in 4:01.75, while bronze went to Jamaica’s Chadoye Dawson (4:04.14). The other T&T runner in the field, Akeem Marshall was seventh in 4:12.65.
“Going into the race,” said London, “I knew that my competitors had the same times, close together, so I just went out there, focused, remained positive and on the last lap just gave it my all.
“I feel very proud of myself right now. Seeing that this is my last year I went out there all out. This was the icing on the cake for me at Carifta Games.”
It was déjà vu at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium during the opening session of Carifta 2013, James capturing T&T’s first title at the Games with a golden throw in the shot put.
At Carifta 2012 in Bermuda, James secured the shot put crown with a record throw.
The 15-year-old Tobago thrower repeated the feat yesterday, throwing 14.48 metres to strike gold, the brilliant final round effort bettering the 14.02m Carifta standard she had established last year.
“It’s really exciting,” said an elated James, following the successful defence of her title. “I didn’t believe I could come this year and get the first gold medal again. It feels really good to come back to Carifta, and be the winner and record holder.”
Going into the event as defending champion was tough for James.
“The pressure was really hard because the competition was very tough. It was really stressful because everybody was expecting me to go out and get the gold, and I delivered again.
“I would like to thank God,” the back-to-back champion continued, “for giving me the ability to come here another year. I would love to thank my coach, Mr Wayne Stewart, back in Tobago, for working endless hours with me in my preparation. I would also like to thank my mother, my grandmother, my aunts for supporting me in everything I want to do.”
Ahead of her final round throw, James was not satisfied with her performance.
“I was telling myself I could do better.”
And she did, the powerful field athlete establishing a new record with her final throw of the competition.
Jamaican Janell Fullerton was second with a 13.75m effort, while third spot went to Bahamian Brashae Wood, who threw 12.60m.
Akidah Briggs was just two centimetres short of bronze, the T&T thrower landing the shot 12.58m to cop fourth spot.
James will be back in action today in the girls’ under-17 discus. The shot put gold medallist told the Express that while she does not expect to win the event, she is anticipating a strong showing.
“I think I would be able to produce a personal best because winning today would help motivate me to throw the discus.”
In other results for the T&T team yesterday, Ian West finished fourth in the boys’ under-17 javelin. He produced a 55.40 metres effort; Ayanna Glasgow and Khemani Roberts finished sixth and eighth, respectively in the girls’ under-17 high jump, clearing 1.60m and 1.55m; and in the boys’ under-20 discus, Micah McNish threw 47.11m to finish seventh, while his T&T teammate, Kenejah Williams copped eighth spot with a 46.90m effort.
Other results:
Boys’ under-17 1500m: 4th Atiba Samuel 4:29.10; 6th Hakeem Alexander 4:36.71
Girls’ under-20 400m: 5th Domonique Williams 55.45 seconds
Boys’ under-17 triple jump: 5th Che Richards 14.21m
Girls’ under-20 shot put: 10th Cherisse Murray 11.63m; 11th Latoya Gilding 10.59m