News14 Aug 2011


Thompson clocks 9.85 national record in Port-of-Spain – Trinidad and Tobago Champs - UPDATED: Daegu squad

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Richard Thompson (l) bolts to victory in the National Championship men's 100m, in Port of Spain. Thompson clocked a 9.85 national record. (© Stephen Doobay / Trinidad Express)

PortofSpain, Trinidad and Tobago - Richard “Torpedo” Thompson is the fastest Trinidad and Tobago sprinter in history!


The 26-year-old track star shot to the top of the all-time list with a 9.85 seconds scorcher in the men’s 100m final, on day one of the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain, on Saturday (13).


Ato Boldon’s 9.86 seconds national record was in the books since 1998. But on Saturday, Thompson set a new standard, completing a hat-trick of National Championship victories with a dominant performance.


Keston Bledman snapped up silver in 10.06, finishing just ahead of Aaron Armstrong (10.07). Marc Burns (10.09), Emmanuel Callender (10.12), Darrel Brown (10.13) and Rondel Sorrillo (10.17) were fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.


Thanks to his 9.85 sizzler, Thompson is now joint-fourth on the 2011 world list, with American Mike Rodgers, and joint-ninth on the all-time list, with Americans Justin Gatlin, Leroy Burrell and Rodgers, and Nigerian Olasuji Fasuba.


Thompson’s clocking is also a new Championship record, as well as a stadium record.


Thompson started well, and by the time he reached the 60-metre mark, gold was guaranteed. When the time showed up on the clock, the 6000-plus spectators erupted, and an exultant “Torpedo” threw his shades into the stands.


“The national record was not the goal coming into the race today, but I’m very glad I was able to achieve it.”


Thompson’s primary objective was qualifying for the IAAF World Championships, in Daegu, Korea (27 Aug - 4 Sep), by finishing in the top three.


“This is just a bonus. Sometimes in life, when you’re trying too hard you’re not able to accomplish it. That was the case in the past. I was trying too hard to get under 10 seconds, and this weekend, when I was most relaxed, I was able to achieve it. I’m just thankful to God, family, friends and fans for coming out to support. I was able to feed off the energy from the crowd.”


“I knew, coming into the race, Bledman was going to be my main competition. When I reached 60, and I was ahead of him, I knew I had him.”


With the World Championships just two weeks away, the double Olympic silver medallist did not want to compete this weekend. He applied for an exemption, but was turned down by the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA).


“God does everything for a reason. If I didn’t come home this weekend I would not have gotten the national record this weekend. I’m thankful for the 9.85, and most of all, coming out injury free and qualifying for Daegu.”



Semoy Hackett clocked a wind-assisted 11.00 seconds to capture the women’s 100m title. Teenagers Kai Selvon (11.19) and Michelle-Lee Ahye (11.20) finished second and third, respectively.


And Renny Quow underlined his class with a comfortable victory in the men’s 400m final. The World Championship bronze medallist got home in 45.89 seconds.


Sorrillo wins 200 in 20.16 - Trinidad and Tobago Champs, Day 2


Thrilled with his superb run in (14) Sunday’s Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championship men’s 200 metres final, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain, Rondel Sorrillo is now firmly focused on becoming only the second Trinidad and Tobago sprinter to join the sub-20 club.


Sorrillo secured half-lap gold in 20.16 seconds, a new Championship record. The clocking is also a new personal best. “When I saw 20.1, I was like, okay, 19 is right there. I could do it.”


Sorrillo is now third on the all-time T list, behind Ato Boldon, the national record holder at 19.77, and Aaron Armstrong (20.08).


Sorrillo told the Express his clocking was a big surprise. “I wasn’t expecting it. I just got out there and ran. I was kind of tired during the heats, but I just sucked it up and ran.”


Coming off the turn, Sorrillo was a couple strides ahead of his closest challenger. He widened the gap on the straight, romping to an impressive victory.


“I had been trying to run under 20.4 (this season), but it just wasn’t working out. Through the grace of God and hard work, it worked (today),” said Sorrillo is curently sixth on the 2011 world season list. He hopes to join the sub-20 club at the IAAF World Championships, in Daegu, Korea (27 Aug - 4 Sep).


Eighteen-year-old Moriba Morain clocked a personal best 20.80 seconds to earn silver in the half-lap final, while bronze was bagged by Lalonde Gordon in 21.03.


Jehue Gordon retained his men’s 400m Hurdles title in emphatic fashion, the 2010 world junior champion winning in a Championship record 48.75 seconds. The clocking is Gordon’s fastest time this season. There were no challengers for the 19-year-old track star, second-placed Jamele Mason, of Puerto Rico, getting home in 50.19.


“It doesn’t really matter to me if you run by yourself or if you run with people. It’s always great to come out here and give my best in front of the home crowd. I’m satisfied, giving God praise and thanks after such a hard start to the season. Things are falling into place at the right time.”


Quincy Wilson broke a national record in the day’s opening event, the men’s discus. Though he was the lone entrant, Wilson was highly motivated, producing a 59.60 metres heave to improve on his own T standard. The throw is also a Championship record.


Kai Selvon cruised to victory in the women’s 200m, the 19-year-old sprinter getting to the line in 23.27 seconds. Reyare Thomas (23.52) and St Kitts & Nevis sprinter Virgil Hodge (24.09) earned silver and bronze, respectively.


The T combination of Sorrillo, Darrel Brown, Lalonde Gordon and Emmanuel Callender won the men’s 4x100m relay in 39.71 seconds. Puerto Rico finished second in 39.97.


Kwame Laurence (Trinidad Express) for the IAAF


Team for Daegu


Men: Richard Thompson (100, 4x100), Keston Bledman (100, 4x100), Aaron Armstrong (100, 4x100), Rondel Sorrillo (200, 4x100), Renny Quow (400, 4x400), Zwede Hewitt (400, 4x400), Jehue Gordon (400 hurdles, 4x400), Marc Burns (4x100), Emmanuel Callender (4x100), Jarrin Solomon (4x400), Jovon Toppin (4x400), Deon Lendore (4x400)


Women: Kelly-Ann Baptiste (100, 4x100), Semoy Hackett (100, 4x100), Michelle-Lee Ahye (100, 4x100), Kai Selvon (200, 4x100), Cleopatra Borel (shot put), Ayanna Hutchinson (4x100), Reyare Thomas (4x100)



DAY 1 RESULTS (13 Aug)


Men's 100m (wind: +1.0)

1 Richard Thompson (Rebirth) 9.85

2 Keston Bledman (Simplex) 10.06

3 Aaron Armstrong (Rebirth) 10.07


Women's 100m (wind: +2.2)

1 Semoy Hackett (Zenith) 11.00

2 Kai Selvon (unattached) 11.19

3 Michelle-Lee Ahye (Concorde) 11.20


Men's invitational 100m (wind: +2.2)

1 Miguel Lopez (Puerto Rico) 10.31

2 Geronimo Goeloe (Aruba) 10.36

3 Justin Gooding (Barbados) 10.36


Women's invitational 100m (wind: +2.0)

1 Tameka Williams (St Kitts & Nevis) 11.52

2 Virgil Hodge (St Kitts & Nevis) 11.54

3 Davanna Claxton (St Kitts & Nevis) 12.22


Men's 400m

1 Renny Quow (Zenith) 45.89

2 Jarrin Solomon (Memphis) 46.40

3 Zwede Hewitt (Rebirth) 46.61


Women's 400m

1 Afiya Walker (Burnley) 54.48

2 Magnolia Howell (unattached) 55.15

3 Kineke Alexander (St Vincent) 55.97


Men's invitational 400m

1 Oral Thompson (Jamaica) 46.17

2 Marvin Lewis (Liberia) 47.02


Men's 1500m

1 Jules La Rode (Penal AC) 4:07.70

2 Mark London (Zenith) 4:09.05

3 Matthew Hagley (Defence Force) 4:10.93


Women's 1500m

1 Pilar McShine (Success) 4:29.29

2 Dawnel Collymore (Memphis) 4:52.52


Men's 110m hurdles (wind: +0.9)

1 Richard Phillips (Jamaica) 13.61

2 Ronald Forbes (Cayman Islands) 13.81m

3 Hector Cotto (Puerto Rico) 13.96


Men's long jump

1 Carlos Morgan (Cayman Islands) 7.54m (wind: +0.1)

2 Carl Morgan (Cayman Islands) 7.51m (wind: +1.8)

3 Dwaine Herbert (Dovers) 7.28m (wind: +1.1)


Women’s triple jump

1 Ayanna Alexander (unattached) 13.64m (wind: -1.0)

2 Essence Mayers (Rebirth) 12.34m (wind: +1.3)


Men's shot put

1 Quincy Wilson (Health Olympians) 16.10m

2 Carlos Greene (UTT Fast Track) 10.45m

3 Akil George (Eastonians) 9.98m


Women's discus

1 Annie Alexander (Burnley) 54.29m

2 Sharisse Downey (Burnley) 39.89m

3 Shaunna Downey (Burnley) 39.15m


Men’s javelin

1 Justin Cummins (Barbados) 68.69m

2 Precious George (Warriors AC) 41.61m

3  Nicholas Blackford (Eastonians) 40.70m



DAY 2 RESULTS (14 Aug)


Men's 200m (wind: +1.6)

1 Rondel Sorrillo (La Brea AC) 20.16

2 Moriba Morain (Simplex) 20.80

3 Lalonde Gordon (Tigers) 21.03


Women's 200m (wind: -1.9)

1 Kai Selvon (unattached) 23.27

2 Reyare Thomas (Neon Trackers) 23.52

3 Virgil Hodge (St Kitts & Nevis) 24.09


Men's invitational 200m (wind: +0.5)

1 Harold Houston (Bermuda) 21.20

2 Geronimo Goeloe (Aruba) 21.23

3 David Hamil (Cayman Islands) 21.39


Men's 800m

1 Mark London (Zenith) 1:54.23

2 Sterlen Paul (Neon Trackers) 1:55.06

3 Denny Gualbance (Quantum) 1:55.40


Women's 800m

1 Dawnel Collymore (Memphis) 2:17.37

2 Kervelle Baird (Petrotrin Palo Seco) 2:34.60


Men's 5000m

1 Denzel Ramirez (Defence Force) 15:19.97

2 Matthew Hagley (Defence Force) 16:10.02

3 Dwight Yearwood (UTT Fast Track) 28:30.36


Men's 400m hurdles

1 Jehue Gordon (Memphis) 48.75

2 Jamele Mason (Puerto Rico) 50.19

3 Emmanuel Mayers (Rebirth) 50.43


Women's 400m hurdles

1 Janeil Bellille (Neon Trackers) 59.25

2 Romona Modeste (Neon Trackers) 1:03.67


Men's high jump

1 Thorrold Murray (Barbados) 2.15m

2 Rodney Liverpool (Defence Force) 1.85m

3 Kevin Roberts (Point Fortin New Jets) 1.85m


Women's long jump

1 Essence Mayers (Rebirth) 5.96m (wind: +2.6)

2 Seantal Brereton (Warriors AC) 5.33m (wind: +2.5)

3 Josanne Joseph (Morvant Jets) 5.01m (wind: -2.6)


Men's triple jump

1 Chris Hercules (Memphis) 15.75m (wind: +0.1)

2 Kyle Preudhomme (unattached) 14.25m (wind: +1.2)

3 Kevin Roberts (Point Fortin New Jets) 13.91m (wind: +0.4)


Women's shot put

1 Annie Alexander (Burnley) 16.53m

2 Gwendolyn Smith (Petrotrin Palo Seco) 12.34m

3 Shaunna Downey (Burnley) 11.00m


Men's discus

1 Quincy Wilson (Health Olympians) 59.60m


Women's javelin

1 Gwendolyn Smith (Petrotrin Palo Seco) 40.75m

2 Nakita Frederick (Morvant Jets) 34.80m

3 Sandra Greenidge (Eastonians) 26.03m


Men's 4x100m

1 Trinidad & Tobago (Rondel Sorrillo, Darrel Brown, Lalonde Gordon, Emmanuel Callender) 39.71

2 Puerto Rico (Hector Cotto, Carlos Rodriguez, Sean Holston, Miguel Lopez) 39.97

3 Simplex (Jesse Berkley, Justin Maloney, Joel Dillon, Moriba Morain) 40.49


Women's 4x100m

1 St Kitts & Nevis (Davanna Claxton, Tameka Williams, Tanika Liburd, Virgil Hodge) 44.88

2 Zenith (Hajaar Smith, Zakiya Denoon, Britney Williams, Tiffany Hackett) 54.88


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