While there will be no T&T athlete competing on the track, today is a day that will be filled with reflection and introspection as the team continues to bond and fight against all obstacles. One of the questions being asked here concerns the non appearance of Olympic 400 metres bronze medallist La Londe Gordon, but manager Dexter Voisin explained that Olympic performances no longer matter at these Games and all athletes at these championships had a qualifying period from October 2012 which Gordon did not achieve the time to run in that event during that period.
“In fact, even Keshorn (Walcott) would have been in trouble if he did not get the qualifying mark in the recently concluded Twilight Games in Trinidad and Tobago,” added Voisin.
Tomorrow sees the start of the relays with the men’s 4 x400 metres. However, La Londe Gordon, an integral part of the relay team is also entered in the men’s 200 metres individual on Friday for which he qualified. Voisin confessed that this is a concern. “The relays will be run off before the 200 metres and we cannot force the athlete to make a decision. To be honest, La Londe openly stated that he is willing to run in the relays ahead of his individual race. This shows the team spirit and unity. He will deal with the 200 metres later.”
Voison noted that while T&T did not have an official competitor on the track, coaches have their own schedules and plans for all the remaining events. “So it is work as usual. We came here to make our country proud. This team is very much focussed on that,” noted Voisin. “We continue to keep positive and take strength from the spirit of our athletes. It is really good to have this sort of unity in Moscow and to ensure that everyone is well supported and that we make our athletes know that they just have to continue to work harder. These competitors are the best in the world and everyone wants to win a medal, whatever the colour,” remarked Voisin.