The National Association of Athletics Administration of T&T (NAAA) has extended congratulations to T&T’s successful track and field team which competed at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada during the week.
In a media release yesterday, the NAAA said: “We would like to congratulate Cleopatra Borel, Keshorn Walcott, Machel Cedenio and Mikel Thomas on their latest achievements and wish them all the best as they continue to prepare for the World Championships being held in Beijing, China from August 22-30, and the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Borel is the very first woman and only the sixth T&T athlete in history to win Gold at the Pan American Games. Borel’s winning throw of 18.67m came in the second round of competition. With this Gold, Borel now has a complete set of Pan American Games medals, as she won Silver in 2011, and Bronze in 2007.
Keshorn, won the men’s javelin throw, with a throw of 83.27 and became the seventh athlete in history with a Pan Am Gold, he can now add this Gold medal to his many Carifta and CAC, World Jr Championship, Continental Cup and Olympic medals What most of you do not know is that Mr Walcott injured his ankle a week ago while competing in Monaco and had to wear a soft cast for about four days while in Toronto.
Yet he was able to show the heart, determination and temperament of a true champion to go out there and perform with this injury and still bring home the Gold. The winning throw came in his second round, he fouled the third and the passed on his last three throws, protecting the ankle from any further injury, with Worlds just one month away.
Nineteen-year-old Machel Cedenio, the 2014 World Jr Champion, won Silver in the men’s 400m dash in a time of 44.70, and became only the fourth quarter miler in the history of the Pan Am Games to win a medal over this distance. Ian Morris who also won silver was the last athlete to do this way back in 1991.
Not only did Mikel Thomas win a Silver medal at the games, he also ran his personal best 13.17 setting a New National Record in the process and became the first male T&T hurdler ever, to medal at the Pan Am Games. Well done ladies and gents, you have made us proud.”