GAMES

Semoy Hackett is very satisfied with her performances at the Olympic Games here in London, England.

Yesterday, the 23-year-old sprinter finished eighth in the women's 200 metres final, at the Olympic Stadium, the result making her the second most successful female Trinidad and Tobago athlete in Olympic history. Kelly-Ann Baptiste is in the number one position, thanks to her sixth-place finish in Saturday's 100m final.

In the half-lap championship race, Hackett got to the line in 22.87 seconds. The race was won by American Allyson Felix in 21.88, while silver went to 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican getting home in 22.09. Felix's teammate, Carmelita Jeter clocked 22.14 to secure bronze.

"I feel good," Hackett told the Express, after the final. "This is my stronger event, and I was determined to medal, but the field was tough."

Coming off the turn, Hackett trailed her rivals, and was unable to get herself back in contention for a podium finish.

"My coach told me to run 60 metres hard, relax, and then go again for the last 80, but by that time..."

In Tuesday's 200m semis, Hackett finished third in her heat in 22.55 seconds. The clocking equalled her own national record, and she advanced to the final as a "fastest loser". And in the opening round of the 100m, last Friday, Hackett clocked a personal best 11.04 seconds, to finish second in her heat. She bowed out in the semis.

"I'm very satisfied. Now, I have to regroup for the relay. All the girls want to win."

Michelle-Lee Ahye, Baptiste, Kai Selvon and Hackett will be in action at 3.20 this afternoon (T&T time) in heat one in the women's 4x100m qualifying round. The T&T quartet will run in lane four, next to Nigeria (three) and Japan (five). United States have been drawn in lane two.

Wayne Davis II bowed out of the men's 110m hurdles in yesterday's semifinal round, the America-born T&T athlete finishing sixth in heat one in 13.49 seconds.

"Out of the blocks it was great," Davis told the Express, "but I hit the first hurdle really really hard with my lead leg on my way up, so there was no way to recover from that. All I had to do was push, and from there the whole race was a disaster pretty much."

Back in 2007, Davis, running for the United States, was crowned world youth (under-18) champion in the sprint hurdles. He has Trinidadian parents, and later decided to compete for T&T.

London 2012 was Davis's first time representing the Red, White and Black. He said he enjoyed being part of the T&T team.

"Trinidadians, they're real fun people—never a dull moment. They accepted me as part of them, so I never had any problems."

However, Davis was not pleased with his efforts on the track. In the opening round, the 20-year-old was fourth in heat two in 13.52 seconds, progressing to the semis as a "fastest loser".

"It was a good experience. Not what I wanted, not at all. But it's a learning experience, and next year I'll come back, recuperate and see what I could do. But overall, I've had a lot of fun, and it's definitely something I would love to do again.

"What I have to do," he continued, "is take every learning experience and put them together. Once I do that, I can run those fast times that I've been looking for. I know I have really fast times in me. I just have to not make mistakes during the race."

Davis said he will be ready to challenge the best sprint hurdlers on the planet at the 2013 World Championships, in Moscow, Russia.

"I have a lot of time to get stronger, and I'll be a little bit older."

Davis also has a vision for the 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"The gold. Going for the gold."

T&T's men's 400m bronze medallist, Lalonde Gordon, will be at the Olympic Stadium today for the qualifying round of the men's 4x400m relay.

Gordon will team up with Deon Lendore, Jarrin Solomon and Ade Alleyne-Forte in heat one, scheduled for 6.35 a.m. (T&T time). T&T will do battle with Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa, Cuba, Kenya, Germany and Poland. The top three teams will advance automatically to tomorrow's final.

By Kwame Laurence

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

Keshorn Walcott left it for late, but qualified for the Men’s Javelin final at the Olympic Games, with his last toss of 81.75 metres in the qualification round at the Olympic Stadium, yesterday in London, England. The debutant kept his nerves despite not getting the start desired and placed 10th in the competition which saw 44 throwers battling for a spot in the final scheduled for Saturday from 2.20 pm. In his first attempt, the world junior champion reached 78.91. He followed that up with an unimpressive 76.44.  “I didn’t do what I came out to do. The distance wasn’t my best, hopefully when it comes back to the final I will get a better throw,” said, the soft-spoken Walcott. He admitted that the entire Olympic experience may have distracted him somewhat, diverting him away from his strategy for the opening round.  “I was a bit anxious and a bit nervous so I was just a little off, but things worked out for the better, so I will come back and hopefully do better.
Now that he has got past one hurdle, he feels more comfortable and is set for a much improved showing the medal round. “The qualification is always the hardest part. In the final I will just be at ease because I’ve already accomplished what I wanted to do. “I’ve come in here with nothing to lose, everything to gain.” Walcott will definitely have some work to do over the next two days as he will go up against the likes of Czech Republic Vitezslav, who qualified on top, with a personal best throw of 88.34 followed by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen (84.47) and Tero Pitkamaki (83-01). Walcotts best throw this season is 82.83, also his personal best. Sprinter Semoy Hackett placed eighth in the women’s 200m final event. Hackett finished in 22.87 seconds, a slower time compared to her run the previous night when she equalled her own national record time of 22.55. As in the night before, Hackett seemed to be in some discomfort after the race. She will have to bounce back quickly though as the 4x100 heats come off today from 3.20 pm (T&T time).
American Allyson Felix, runner-up in Athens and Beijing to Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown, finally got the gold medal, overcoming a sluggish start to lead, coming off the bend and complete a relatively easy win. The 26-year-old clocked a time of 21.88 to finish 0.21 ahead of 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. USA's Carmelita  Jeter - silver medallist over 100m - took bronze, with Campbell-Brown fourth and failing in her bid to become the first woman to win a track event for three Olympics in succession. Wayne Davis bowed out in the semifinal round of the Men’s 110m heat after placing sixth in a time of 13.49. Davis remained upbeat despite not progressing, accepting his first Olympics as a learning experience. “It didn’t go as I would have liked. I hit the first hurdle and from there it killed my momentum. I had to go back to scratch. My start was amazing. I was in front of everybody. “Next time what I need to do, is harness that, cut down a little bit more and once I do, it will keep me in the lead in the race,” said Davis. “So that’s something I will be working on next year.”
Davis added that he enjoyed his debut, noting the it was a great opportunity racing against athletes whom he’d watched on film for a number of years. “It’s an eye-opener and I finally saw myself as one of these top guys. This is the biggest stage I could be on and I was like wow, I’m actually here.” This is the end of his season and the 20-year-old is already making plans for the future, recognising that he has work to do if he is to compete at the next Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 2016. “I am going to regroup, go back to basic training and get ready for Rio,” shared Davis. Later, American Aries Merritt took gold in the final, running a personal best of 12.92. The final favourite, Jason Richardson, another US athlete, finished with the silver medal in 13.04, and Jamaican Hansle Parchment bagged the bronze with a new national record of 13.12.
By Rachael Thompson-King
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Fear not T&T, Olympic bronze-medallist Lalonde Gordon has given his assurance that T&T 4x400m relay team can prosper, even in the absence of quartermiler Renny Quow. Quow’s Olympic experience came to a premature end, without him even stepping on the track here in London, England. He left on Monday for the United States to tend to a hamstring injury which has been troubling him for some time now. Annette Knott, chef de mission yesterday confirmed that the 400 metres specialist will not take part in the 30th Olympiad. “We didn’t want to chance him getting further injuries so he went back to the US to do therapy on the injured harmstring,” she said. Today, the men’s relay team, which will consist of a combination of Gordon, Ade Alleyne-Forte, Jarrin Solomon, Deon Lendore and Machel Cedenio, will look to dominate at the Olympic Stadium, competing in the first of two heats at 6.35 am T&T time. “We have a good chance of medaling although we don’t have Quow,” said Gordon. “All the guys should go under 45 so we have a good chance.”
His message to T&T: “Just keep believing in us and we will do a good job.” Tobago-born Quow is the second local athlete, forced out the Games due to injury. Coincidentally another Tobago-bred Josanne Lucas also made an early exit, a week before the start of the Games, a recurring knee injury the reason. It was a disappointment for T&T when Quow did not start in the Men’s 400m but Gordon mended that heartache by taking third place in 44.52 seconds in a final dominated by Caribbean athletes. Grenadian 19-year-old Kirani James won gold in 43.94 and Luguelin Santos, 18, of Dominican Republic was second in 44.46. Gordon enjoyed the historic moment on Tuesday night being the second T&T athlete to have the national flag lifted over that distance during the medal ceremony.  The first was Wendell Mottley, who copped a silver medal at the 1964 Tokyo Games in Japan. However, Ian Morris still holds the national record of 44.21, achieved in the semifinals of the 1992 Olympics
The T&T unit will race against teams from Great Britain, Cuba, South Africa, Kenya, Belgium, Poland and Germany, aiming to qualify for the final set for tomorrow at 4.20 pm (T&T time).
Solomon is not intimidated by these opponents and was in a positive mood ahead of the relay event. He said, “We’re looking to give our best out there showing everybody what we are made of. “I’m 100 percent healthy, no injuries. I’m anxious and more than ready to get out there.” National women’s sprint champion Kelly-Ann Baptiste will try to make amends for her sixth place finish in the women 100m final when she leads T&T 4x100m relay team in the semifinal heats. Two heats are scheduled with T&T competing in the first at 3.20 pm. Semoy Hackett, Michelle Lee Ahye Kai Selvon, Reyare Thomas, Sparkle McKnight make up the rest of the women’s team. Baptiste feels assured that the T&T quartet will do well and not making it to the podium in the 100m dash, makes her “more hungry” for success. “It’s another opportunity to get a medal which I think we can. I was really excited to see Semoy (Hackett) run a pb (personal best) in the 100m and that just boost our chances. The leg speed we have is there,” said Baptiste. “I am confident that we could go in there and if we have fun and let things go then we can get a medal.”
By Rachael Thompson-King
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

SEMOY HACKETT became the first Trinidad and Tobago athlete to book a spot in the women’s 200-metres final in an Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old atoned for her failure to make the women’s 100-metres final, last Saturday, with a third-place finish in the second of three semi-final heats in 22.55 seconds at the Olympic Stadium in London, England, yesterday, equalling the national record time over the women’s half-lap.

Hackett followed on the heels of fellow Tobagonian Kelly-Ann Baptiste, who became the first national sprinter to make an Olympic final of the women’s 100 metres.

Speaking from London yesterday, manager of the TT track and field contingent Dexter Voisin noted, “We have Semoy, who became the first TT athlete to make it to the women’s 200-metres final. The competition is tough, but we want to ensure we get as many finalists as possible.

“I don’t want to make any predictions but we’re just hoping for the best,” he added.

The other TT finalists thus far at the Games are Lalonde Gordon, who copped bronze in the men’s 400 metres race, Baptiste, Jehue Gordon (men’s 400 metres hurdles), Richard Thompson (men’s 100 metres) and swimmer George Bovell III (men’s 50 metres freestyle).

In the second heat of the women 200 metres semis, Allyson Felix of the United States (US) was victorious in 22.31 seconds while Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast was next in 22.49.

According to the event’s rules, only the top two finishers, in the three semi- final heats, automatically advanced to today’s final, which is carded for 4 pm. But Hackett, as well as France’s Myriam Soumare (22.56 seconds) qualified as the “fastest losers”.

Felix and Ahoure were always in the fray for the top two spots, but Hackett showed tremendous grit and determination, in the last 50 metres, to claim third place.

Hackett’s other rivals in the final will be Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica and Carmelita Jeter of the US (who took the top two spots in heat one in 22.32 and 22.39 seconds respectively); Sanya Richards- Ross of the US and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (who were the top two in heat three in 22.30 and 22.34 seconds respectively).

The other TT participant in the women’s 200 metres semi-final, Kai Selvon, placed fifth in heat three in 23.04 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago had mixed results in the men’s 110 metres hurdles’ first round yesterday morning, as 24-year-old Mikel Thomas was fourth in heat three in 13.74 seconds, with Orlando Ortega of Cuba victorious in 13.26.

Another fourth-place finisher in the heats was Wayne Davis III, a 20-year-old American-born of Trinidadian parentage entrant, who clocked 13.52 seconds in heat one. Jason Richardson of the US was the winner in 13.33 seconds.

But Davis’ time ensured he will progress to today’s semi-final phase, as one of the fastest losers, while Thomas’ Olympic debut ended as quickly as it began.

On his Twitter page yesterday, Thomas blogged, “thank you all for your love and support. I know I’m capable of more and, with your continued support, the limit is the sky.”

And Rondel Sorrillo was eliminated in the first round of the men’s 200 metres.

The 26-year-old could only muster a fifth place finish in the second heat, in 20.76 seconds.

The heat was won by Christophe Lemaitre of France in 20.34 seconds.

At the London Velopark, 21-year-old American-based cyclist Njisane Phillip took the seventh place in the men’s keirin.

He would later tweet, “all done! Thanks to all my sponsors for supporting me. TT thank you very much again, I love my country. Gotta give thanks to God for all these blessings, came in (and) shocked the world, I’m coming (2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).”

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

Njisane Phillip dug deep into his reserves to produce a strong finish to his first Olympic campaign, the Trinidad and Tobago cyclist finishing seventh in the men's keirin, at the Velodrome, here in London, England, yesterday.

And at the Olympic Stadium, Semoy Hackett finished strong in the second of three women's 200 metres semi-final heats. The T&T sprinter advanced to the final as a "fastest loser" after copping third spot in an impressive 22.55 seconds, the clocking equalling her own national record.

"I feel proud to be in the final," said Hackett. "I prepared very hard. I'm mentally prepared."

Hackett was fourth coming off the bend, but powered down the straight to move into third spot, finishing behind American Allyson Felix (22.31) and Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahoure (22.49).

At four o'clock this afternoon (T&T time), Hackett will become the first woman from T&T to face the starter in an Olympic Games 200m final.

Another T&T sprinter, Kai Selvon, finished fifth in the third semi-final in 23.04 seconds and did not progress to the championship race.

"It was the best I could have done," Selvon told the Express. "At the warmup track, I felt something in my leg–a little soreness from a past injury–so I just came out there and did the best I could have done. But I'll be okay.

"The experience was good," she continued. "I get to see how hard I have to work."

Phillip qualified for the second round of the keirin when he was promoted from fourth to third in his first round repechages heat, following the relegation of China's Zhang Miao "for not having held his line during the last 200 metres of the race".

Earlier, Phillip finished fourth in the opening first round heat. The top two progressed automatically to the second round, while the other riders competed in the repechages.

In the second round, Phillip finished fourth in heat one, missing out on a berth in the medal race by one spot.

And then, in the race for positions 7-12, Phillip made a bold bid for victory with two laps to go. He was still out front at the bell, and in the rush for the finish line held off his rivals.

"To tell you the truth," said Phillip, "that was the plan. I said this was my last race for a while, so just put it out there. I went down shooting. It was nice, it was nice. I was hurting though."

Phillip, who finished fourth in the sprint here in London, is now the most successful T&T cyclist in Olympic history. He edged past Gene Samuel, who was fourth in the kilometre time trial in 1984 and eighth in the same event in 1992.

Phillip is satisfied with his fourth and seventh place performances. But at the 2016 Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he wants to climb the podium.

"The next four years is going to be a long journey, so I'm going to take in a lot from that. My next goal will be Commonwealth Games 2014. That will be the next stepping stone.

"Thanks to the sponsors," Phillip continued, "everybody out there that supported me–tremendous support. I look forward to that support for 2016."

T&T's Wayne Davis II will square off against reigning world champion Jason Richardson for the second time at the London Games, in the first of three men's 110m hurdles semifinal heats, at 2.15 this afternoon (T&T time), at the Olympic Stadium.

Davis and Richardson clashed in the opening round, yesterday. The American topped heat two in 13.33 seconds, while Davis finished fourth, his 13.52 clocking earning him a "fastest loser" berth in the semis.

Davis had to wait about half hour to find out if he would advance. He did, the 20-year-old Texas A&M University student getting to the semifinal round on his Olympic debut.

"I'm just glad I'm in," a relieved Davis told the Express. "Got to rest up, and show people what I can really do."

Conditions at the Olympic Stadium during yesterday's first session were uncomfortably cold at times, the temperature dropping to 14 degrees Celsius.

"I'm used to a lot of heat because I live in Texas, so this is a big, big difference for me. But hey, you got to deal with it because this is where the Olympics is."

Davis won the 2007 world youth (under-18) sprint hurdles title for the United States, but switched allegiance last year. Yesterday's race was his first for T&T, the country of his parents' birth.

"Definitely a good feeling…my parents, making them proud. I'm not from there, but that's part of my roots, and representing my roots is better than anything."

Mikel Thomas bowed out in the opening round of the 110 hurdles. He copped fifth spot in heat three in 13.74 seconds, the T&T athlete hitting all ten barriers.

"Every time I race," Thomas told the Express, "I'm chasing perfection. There were different parts of the race I could have done better. I'm going to learn from this and move forward."

There was also disappointment yesterday for Rondel Sorrillo.

A men's 200m finalist at last year's World Championships, the T&T sprinter was hoping to repeat the feat here in London. However, Sorrillo could only finish fifth in heat two, and his 20.76 seconds clocking was not good enough to secure a lane in the semis as a "fastest loser".

"Coming round the turn," he explained, "the shoe was coming off my foot. After that, I didn't know where in the race I was. I tried to hold my form to come through strong."

Sorrillo, who was eliminated in the 100m semis, on Sunday, said that attempting the sprint double might also have contributed to his sub-par performance in the half-lap event.

"It probably did," he told the Express. "I thought I was able to do it, but I don't know yet."

T&T's world junior champion, Keshorn Walcott competes today in the men's javelin qualifying competition. He has been drawn in Group B, which starts at 3.50 p.m. (T&T time). To secure an automatic berth in Saturday's final, the 19-year-old must reach the 82-metre mark. Walcott's personal best is 82.83m.

By Kwame Laurence

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

A rare sight was witnessed at the Olympic Stadium, here in London, England, yesterday. For only the second time in Olympic history, the Trinidad and Tobago flag was raised during a 400 metres medal ceremony.

The man responsible for the hoisting of the Red, White and Black, Lalonde Gordon, was moved by the moment.

"Breathtaking. I can't believe it. I'm proud to make my country's flag raise."

The 23-year-old quartermiler wants to make such occasions the norm, rather than the exception.

On Monday, Gordon clocked a personal best 44.52 seconds to earn bronze in the one-lap final. Only Grenada's Kirani James, the winner in 43.94, and Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos (44.46) got to the line ahead of the Lowlands, Tobago, quartermiler.

James is only 19, while Santos, who recently won the world junior (under-20) title, is 18. All things being equal, both men will again be in the hunt for precious metal at the 2016 Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But so will Gordon, and he plans to make an even stronger bid for the top spot.

The New York-based athlete told the Express that in addition to usurping King Kirani's crown in Rio, he wants to join the Grenadian in the sub-44 club.

"My goal is to drop the national record into the 43s."

Ian Morris' 44.21 seconds T&T standard has been in the books for two decades. But Gordon is not daunted by the longevity of the mark. And he shouldn't be. After all, he just broke an agonisingly long drought, becoming the country's second Olympic 400m medallist, 48 years after Wendell Mottley became the first with silver at the 1964 Games, in Tokyo, Japan.

Gordon told the Express that when he woke up, yesterday, he was in a state of disbelief.

"I thought I was in a dream. My roommate, Ade Alleyne-Forte, had to remind me that I won the medal. I still couldn't believe it. I'm the underdog, and I made it to the top."

For a couple weeks, early in 2012, Gordon was the world leader in the indoor 400m. He clocked 46.51 seconds on January 13, and followed up with a 46.43 run eight days later.

Leading the world, he said, inspired him on the Road to London.

"I told myself I have to try to repeat it outdoors and show the world who I am."

Though he has lived in New York for most of his life, his family having moved there permanently when he was just seven, not even the people in his Queens neighbourhood were aware of Gordon's exploits on the track, before Monday's historic run.

"Nobody knows me... just a few friends in the area. The bronze has given me a great sense of confidence. I've made my country and area proud. I hope people will recognise me now."

They should. Lalonde Keida Gordon is the newly crowned King of Queens.

By Kwame Laurence

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

More Articles …

  1. What type of Olympic athlete are you in your career?
  2. Runner from tiny Grenada breaks US domination of 400 metres
  3. Gordon rises to the occasion
  4. Gordon shows true grit to win bronze
  5. Boldon 'excited' by Lalonde's bronze
  6. OOH LALONDE! ...T&T athlete bags bronze medal in men's 400 metres London Olympic final
  7. Trinidad and Tobago sprinter not at the Olympics just to participate
  8. Man arrested after bottle thrown on to track moments before start of 100 metres final
  9. Phillips aims to be sharp today
  10. Finalist Gordon all set to have fun
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