Jehue regains 400 metres hurdles title
Global champions Keshorn Walcott and Jehue Gordon enjoyed contrasting wins at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday, the final day of the NGC-Sagicor National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Open Track and Field Championships.
Walcott was in a class of his own in the men's javelin. The 2012 Olympic gold medallist landed the spear 84.84 metres in the very first round to break his own Championship record, putting the title beyond the reach of any of his 12 rivals.
Walcott followed up with an 82.71m throw in round two. Having thoroughly entertained his adoring home fans, the 22-year-old national hero then passed on his last four attempts, leaving Shakiel Waithe and 17-year-old Grenadian Anderson Peters to battle for the minor medals.
Waithe seized silver with a big 77.30m throw--a new personal best. Peters, meanwhile, produced a 74.20m effort to bag bronze.
Gordon was forced to work hard for the men's 400 metres hurdles title. Though the 2013 IAAF World Championship gold medallist went out aggressively, defending national champion Emmanuel Mayers was on level terms at the halfway point.
Gordon and Mayers were still battling stride for stride coming off the penultimate barrier. But it was Gordon who was a bit stronger at the end, crossing the line in 50.06 seconds to regain the title he surrendered to Mayers in 2014. Mayers finished second in 50.24, well ahead of third-placed Ruebin Walters (51.82).
"It was definitely not easy," Gordon told the Express, after the race. "These guys, they're hungry. I just had to keep my eyes on my lane, use my experience, and bring my 'A' game at this point in time. The conditions, they were not too good with the wind, but hey, we all had to compete under the same circumstances. I guess I was the better man today."
Gordon will be in Beijing, China in late August to defend his world title.
"I would give it my best. It's definitely not going to be easy. But you know me, it's always about making sure I'll be my best at that point in time. Once it comes to the Championships, it's not really about times, but making sure that we're fit enough to go through the rounds, make it to the final, and bring home a medal."
Kyle Greaux won the men's 200m title in a personal best 20.42 seconds, from Rondel Sorrillo (20.50) and Dan-Neil Telesford (20.53).
Reyare Thomas captured the women's half-lap crown in a wind-assisted 22.97 seconds. Kamaria Durant (23.15) and Magnolia Howell (23.64) picked up the minor medals.
Just two athletes faced the starter in the women's 400m hurdles. But Josanne Lucas and Sparkle McKnight combined to produce one of the most thrilling finishes at the Championships. They both got to the line in 56.76 seconds. Lucas, though, got the win, the 2009 IAAF World Championship bronze medallist beating her rival by just two-thousandths of a second.
"I am really happy," said Lucas. "This is the best race I've had in Trinidad in the 400 hurdles, by far. We pushed each other, so I think it was good.”
Jamaal James just got the better of Nicholas Landeau in the men's 800m final. James returned a time of one minute, 49.36 seconds, while Landeau clocked 1:49.41.
Alena Brooks won the women's 800m in 2:06.71, forcing American-born Myah Hicks to settle for silver in 2:07.66.
Cleopatra Borel threw 18.46m to enjoy a comfortable victory in the women's shot put.
Walcott's brother, Elton Walcott topped the men's triple jump field with a wind-aided 16.40m effort. He also produced a legal 16.32m jump.
Veteran Marsha Mark-Baird accumulated 4,793 points—a new Championship record—to win the women's heptathlon.
There were uninhibited celebrations from Quincy Wilson following his 57.78m fourth round throw in the men's discus. He looked to the heavens with gratitude, dived in the grass, and even treated patrons to the “Usain Bolt pose”.
The competition was not yet over, but Wilson knew he had done enough to secure the gold. More importantly, the huge throw signalled a successful comeback from injury and qualification for next month's Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.
SUNDAY'S FINALS
Men's 200m (wind: +1.7)
1 Kyle Greaux (Abilene) 20.42
2 Rondel Sorrillo (La Brea) 20.50
3 Dan-Neil Telesford (Neon Trackers) 20.53
Women's 200m (wind: +2.2)
1 Reyare Thomas (Abilene) 22.97
2 Kamaria Durant (Simplex) 23.15
3 Magnolia Howell (unattached) 23.64
Men's 200m “B” race (wind: +1.9)
1 Tristan Walker (Jamaica) 20.60
2 Winston George (Guyana) 20.68
3 Kevin Haynes (Defence Force) 21.14
Women's 200m “B” race (wind: +1.8)
1 Karene King (British Virgin Islands) 23.26
2 Ashley Kelly (British Virgin Islands) 23.36
3 Ngozi Onwumere (Nigeria) 23.78
Men's 800m
1 Jamaal James (Rebirth) 1:49.36
2 Nicholas Landeau (Rebirth) 1:49.41
3 Kendis Bullard (Defence Force) 1:51.01
Women's 800m
1 Alena Brooks (Memphis) 2:06.71
2 Myah Hicks (Memphis) 2:07.66
3 Dawnel Collymore (Memphis) 2:10.76
Men's 5000m
1 Kenneth Rotich (Kenya) 15:04:66
2 Jules La Rode (Penal) 16:17:15
3 Iley Bruce (Dovers) 16:26:73
Men's 400m hurdles
1 Jehue Gordon (Memphis) 50.06
2 Emmanuel Mayers (Rebirth) 50.24
3 Ruebin Walters (Memphis) 51.82
Women's 400m hurdles
1 Josanne Lucas (Falcons) 56.76 (56.757)
2 Sparkle McKnight (Memphis) 56.76 (56.759)
Men's high jump
1 Brendan Williams (Dominica) 2.10m
2 Omari Benoit (Falcons) 1.90m
3 Rodney Liverpool (Defence Force) 1.90m
Men's pole vault
1 Ian West (Point Fortin New Jets) 3.00m
2 Anderson Subero (Sangre Grande Secondary) 2.60m
Women's long jump
1 Chantel Malone (British Virgin Islands) 6.51m (wind: +2.4)
2 Josanne Joseph (Concorde) 5.76m (wind: +3.3)
3 Dannielle Davis (unattached) 5.64m (wind: +2.1)
Men's triple jump
1 Elton Walcott (UTT) 16.40m (wind: +3.9)
2 Kyron Blaise (Rebirth) 16.23m (wind: +3.0)
3 Steve Waithe (Memphis) 16.04m (wind: +2.5)
Women's shot put
1 Cleopatra Borel (Rebirth) 18.46m
2 Chelsea James (Falcons) 14.54m
3 Jaleesa Williams (D'Abadie Progressive) 14.48m
Men's discus
1 Quincy Wilson (Rebirth) 57.78m
2 Emmanuel Stewart (Zenith) 51.80m
3 Keon Francis (UWI) 46.47m
Men's javelin
1 Keshorn Walcott (Rebirth) 84.84m CR
2 Shaquille Waithe (Rebirth) 77.30m
3 Anderson Peters (Grenada) 74.20m
Men's decathlon
1 Victor Isaac (Toco TAFAC) 5,872 points
2 Shevon Smith (Sangre Grande Secondary) 4,014
3 Brad Robert (Sangre Grande Secondary) 3,875
Women's heptathlon
1 Marsha Mark-Baird (Palo Seco) 4,793 points CR
2 Kechelle Douglas (UTT) 4,590
3 Aeisha McDavid (unattached) 4,569
Men's 4x100m
1 Abilene 40.75
2 Alpha Athletic 41.02
3 Defence Force 41.91
Men's 4x400m
1 Memphis Pioneers 3:13.72
2 Defence Force 3:14.29
3 Dovers 3:22.78
Men's 100m Masters (wind: +1.8)
1 Norton St Louis (Defence Force) 10.98
2 Martin Prime (ZC) 11.85
3 Lester Herbert (ZC) 12.04
Women's 100m Masters (wind: +1.9)
1 Ayanna Hutchinson (Concorde) 11.96
2 Alisha Fortune (Guyana) 12.20
3 Joan Hospedales (T&T Masters) 13.90
CR – Championship Record