Lendore leads the way as T&T athletes prosper in US
Deon Lendore was the feature act as Trinidad and Tobago athletes enjoyed a fruitful weekend at indoor track and field meets in the United States.
Lendore’s world-leading time of 45.74 seconds earned him victory in the men’s 400 metres at the Texas A&M Triangular, in Texas, on Saturday. Running a 400 for the first time this season, the Texas A&M University student won section one, finishing more than two seconds ahead of the runner-up.
Another T&T athlete, Carlyle Roudette, who is also a Texas A&M student, topped section two in 46.58 for second spot overall.
Lendore was the fastest man in the world last year in the men’s indoor 400m event, his 45.15 seconds national record run earning him 10th spot on the world all-time list. The 21-year-old quarter-miler is leading the world again, and well poised for a successful 2014 campaign.
Lendore’s 45.74 clocking is a new meet record.
His Texas A&M teammate, Wayne Davis II equalled the men’s 60m hurdles meet record, the T&T athlete topping the field in 7.75 seconds.
Another T&T/Texas A&M athlete, Janeil Bellille struck gold in the women’s 400m in 53.58 seconds—a new indoor best. And Louisiana State University (LSU) sprinter, Shermund Allsop was sixth in the men’s 200m in 21.74 seconds.
At the Arkansas State Invitational, Kashef Daniel cleared the bar at 2.13 metres to triumph in the men’s high jump. Daniel was also victorious two weekends ago, at the Kentucky Collegiate Invitational. The Arkansas State University student jumped a personal best 2.14m.
Another T&T jumper, Deandra Daniel topped the women’s high jump field at the Captain’s Invitational meet in Virginia with a 1.73m clearance. That victory was a follow-up to her golden performance two weekends ago at the Terrapin Invitational in Maryland, where the Coppin State University sophomore jumped a personal best 1.80m.
Daniel also competed in the triple jump in Virginia. She finished sixth with a 10.23m effort.
At the Jack Johnson Classic, in Minnesota, University of Minnesota senior Alena Brooks returned a time of two minutes, 08.16 seconds to grab gold in the women’s 800m. Iowa Central Community College sophomore, Jessica James was 15th overall in 2:19.01.
North Dakota State University’s Deborah John triumphed in the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.41 seconds—a new meet record.
And University of Iowa senior Carissa Leacock produced a 12.09m effort to seize silver in the women’s triple jump.
Geronne Black was the class of the women’s 60m dash Friday field at the Cherry and Silver Invitational in New Mexico, the T&T sprinter winning in 7.37 seconds. She had clocked 7.33 in the preliminary round.
Jarrin Solomon finished second in section one and third overall in the men’s 400m Saturday event, in 46.70 seconds. Another T&T quarter-miler, Ade Alleyne-Forte was 10th overall in 47.72. In the 200m, Alleyne-Forte was 26th in 22.13.
Jamol James sprinted to victory in the men’s 60m dash white event at the Rod McCravy Memorial, in Kentucky. The University of Tennessee junior stopped the clock at 6.76 seconds. Baylor University sophomore, Dannielle Davis was ninth overall in the women’s 60m hurdles white event in 8.84 seconds. And in the long jump, Davis finished 16th with a 5.39m leap.
At the Terrier Invitational, in Boston, Morgan State University’s Emmanuel Stewart won the men’s weight throw with an 18.82m effort. Andre Marcano clocked 6.94 seconds for eighth spot in the men’s 60m dash. In the preliminary round, he got to the line in 6.91.
And at the Vanderbilt Invitational, in Tennessee, Peli Alzola was seventh in the women’s 200m in 24.63 seconds. The Mississippi State University freshman also competed in the 60m dash, finishing 10th overall in 7.84.