Victory for Shukla in Nebraska
Shot putter Cleopatra Borel is at the top of the 2014 world outdoor performance list, following her victory at the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Development Meet 3, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Saturday.
The Trinidad and Tobago field athlete threw the iron ball 17.43 metres in her season-opener to shoot to the top of the women’s shot put list.
Borel endured a tough 2013 campaign, a hyper-extended finger on her throwing hand preventing her from producing her best results. Additionally, her father, Raymond Borel, was ailing. He passed away in August.
But despite the physical and emotional challenges, Borel struck gold at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Track and Field Championships, in Morelia, Mexico – her third victory in six CAC Seniors outings. In Morelia, she threw 17.56m – almost two metres short of her 19.48m personal best.
Borel told the Express, yesterday, she has great expectations for 2014.
“I don’t want to put numbers out there, but the sky is the limit.
“I’m satisfied with my season opener. It was a test run...something to shake off the dust. I was trying to go 100 percent to see how the finger would be. It’s going well, so I should be good to go for this year. I’m looking at my technique right now, and I’m executing right.”
Borel said she is targeting the March 7-9 World Indoor Championships, in Sopot, Poland.
“I might have to do my preparation at home. There’s nothing for my event on the circuit, so I’m trying to take advantage of the development meets.”
Borel is also eyeing the July 23-August 3 Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland. The 34-year-old field athlete has an excellent record at the Games. Borel was fourth on debut in 2002, bagged bronze in 2006, and secured silver in 2010. She wants to add to her medal collection in Glasgow, and is also hoping to bid for precious metal at the November 15-30 CAC Games in
Veracruz, Mexico.
Borel’s preparations are being overseen by Ismael Lopez
Mastrapa, the man who coached Keshorn Walcott to men’s javelin gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Things are going really well,” said Borel. “I’m very happy with the work we’re doing.”
Samantha Shukla was also victorious on Saturday. The Wichita State University student returned a time of nine minutes, 58.89 seconds to top the women’s 3,000 metres field at the Mark Colligan Memorial indoor meet, in Nebraska, USA.
Jameel Walcott finished fifth in the men’s 800m at the Tar Heel Opener in North Carolina, the St Augustine’s University student getting home in 1:55.93.
And at the Princeton Tiger Open, in New Jersey, University of Delaware athlete Chelsi Campbell clocked 1:02.32 to finish eighth overall in the women’s 400m.