Khalifa St Fort is a strong contender for precious metal in today’s girls’ 100 metres dash, at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. The American-born Trinidad and Tobago sprinter opens her medal quest in the preliminary round. The first heat is scheduled for 11.40am (T&T time). The semis will be contested from 7.10pm, and the final at 9.05pm.

St Fort is the second fastest entrant in the girls’ 100m with the 11.43 seconds personal best she clocked in Florida, USA on May 23. The fastest is American Candace Hill, who carries the favourite’s mantle after stopping the clock at a jaw-dropping 10.98 on June 20. The clocking is the world youth (Under-18) record, as well as the American junior (Under-20) record.

“People are expecting me to run that fast again,” said Hill at Tuesday’s IAAF press conference, “but I know that might have been a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The girl from Trinidad and Tobago is a great athlete. I feel like we’re going to go head-to-head in the finals.”

St Fort’s coach, T&T’s quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon said at the press conference that Hill’s 10.98 run has served as a fillip for his athlete.

“Khalifa’s whole season changed when she saw that 10.98, because when someone she runs against runs a huge personal best, it shows you it’s possible. I know Khalifa is ready to run a personal best here and you can tie it to watching that 10.98.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened and it makes it easier to compete here because nobody is asking her questions. All the pressure is on Candace so it allows her to just come in and compete. She has done everything I’ve asked of her, (Candace Hill) is the only person to run faster than her; this is the beginning.”

St Fort is looking forward to stepping on the track in the Colombian city.

“My expectations are to execute my game plan well. Of course the goal is to get first, but I’ve come a long way and just to be here is an experience. Whatever the outcome is I’ll be happy.”

Another T&T athlete, Akidah Briggs will compete in the girls’ shot put qualifying competition from 10.35 this morning. The final is scheduled for 8.30pm.

Akanni Hislop was expected to face the starter late yesterday in the third and final boys’ 100m semi-final heat. The final was scheduled for ten o’clock last night.

Hislop was a runaway winner of heat two in the preliminary round of the boys’ century. The T&T sprinter clocked 10.53 seconds for a comfortable cushion on second-placed Jack Hale (10.66) of Australia.

Hislop had the sixth fastest time in the opening round. Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, meanwhile, confirmed his status as favourite with victory in heat one in a Championship record time of 10.30 seconds. The previous Championship standard of 10.31 was established by T&T’s Darrel Brown in the 2001 final, in Debrecen, Hungary.

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This letter is meant to highlight the plight of the residents of Central Park in Couva who, on a regular basis, are being held hostage in their homes and bombarded with excessive noise from the Ato Boldon Stadium. The noise has nothing to do with legitimate sporting activity but rather from fetes, car shows and various activities which are being hosted in the stadium car park with increasing frequency.

The housing development is adjacent to and downwind of the compound of both the stadium and the National Cricket Centre. These facilities were built long after the housing development which has been in existence for over 30 years. It is grossly unfair that these relatively recent facilities should be the source of untold distress to residents who purchased land and built their homes (without any government’s help) in a quiet neighbourhood hoping to escape the hustle and bustle of our increasingly stressful society.

The events start at low noise levels but increase with time and sometimes go on for more than six hours—late into the night and into the early hours of the morning. Residents are totally stressed out by continuous, excessive noise over long periods, depriving them of their peace and quiet and enjoyment of their property.

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has shown empathy and tries to mediate a win-win situation, but it appears that they are obligated to grant a variation to the ambient noise levels.

The stadium management has indicated the need to raise revenue and therefore is constrained to allow these events. The police intervene from time to time but the noise levels increase once the officers leave.

We are calling on the Minister of Sport to look into this very distressing state of affairs. We shudder to think that the cycling velodrome and the aquatic centre, both of which are being constructed near to the stadium and could be opened soon, might adopt a similar policy.

It is time for the authorities to step in and protect the legitimate rights of law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who, instead of looking for handouts, engage in lawful employment and just want some rest, relaxation and rejuvenation after battling the stresses of the workday or work-week.

E Rampaul

Couva

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Wednesday July 15^th, Toronto, Canada – Sailors Kelly Ann Arrindell and Andrew Lewis continued to post solid results after another day on the water. Unofficial results have Arrindell 3^rd in race five of the women’s laser, 7th in race six and 7^th in race seven. This is Arrindell’s second top 3 finish in the competition. Lewis was 8^th in race five, and 7^th in races six and seven of the men’s laser event. Both sailors have four more races to complete before competition ends.

In volleyball, the duos of Davidson and Dyette and Williams and Whitfield lost in straight sets to Mexico and Chile respectively. While both matches were keenly contested, the teams were unable to turn things around in time to force a third set.

The medal hunt for Trinidad and Tobago continues on Thursday with action in golf, track cycling, swimming, field hockey and volleyball.

Tuesday July 14^th, Toronto, Canada – Dylan Carter swam to an impressive fifth place finish in the men’s 100m freestyle final at the Pan Am Games. Carter entered the final as the sixth fastest qualifier with a time of 49:29, and bettered that time in the final with a personal best of 49.10.  Clearly pleased with his performance, Carter tweeted following the race, “5^th place tonight and movement in the right direction! Rome wasn’t built in a day.” TTOC President Brian Lewis also offered his congratulations to Carter following the race.

In football, the women warriors fought to a 1-1 draw against Columbia, with Kennya Cordner scoring the equalizer on the same day that she was named Tobago House of Assembly (THA) sportswoman of the year 2014. This result leaves Trinidad and Tobago third in Group A with 2 points. They will next face Mexico on Saturday July 18^th.

Sailing also continued with Kelly Ann Arrindell and Andrew Lewis placing 10^th and 6^th respectively in race 4 of the Laser event. Seven races are left in the competition.

In beach volleyball the women’s duo of Davidson and Dyette lost to Argentina in straight sets. They will next face Mexico on Wednesday. In field hockey the men’s team featuring Shaquille Daniel, son of flag bearer Roger Daniel suffered a heavy defeat to Argentina, losing 11:0 in their opening match. They will next face Cuba on Thursday.

In other events fighter Christopher George lost to his Uruguayan opponent Manuel Beuno in men’s Judo -100Kg and is out of the competition.  In trap shooting Anthony Maraj ended day 2 of qualification ranked 28^th out of 29 competitors, and will not advance to the final.

On Wednesday July 15^th sailing will continue along with beach volleyball.

July 14^th, Toronto, Canada – Gymnast Marisa Dick continued to impress after qualifying for the women’s individual all round competition on Monday night. Dick finished 14^th in the competition, posting solid scores in all four disciplines balance beam, vault, floor exercise and the uneven bars. Following the event Dick expressed pride in her performance saying, “Things went as well as they could go. I’m really proud of myself, and I just want to make everyone in Trinidad proud too.”

Sailing continued with Kelly Ann Arrindell placing 12^th and 9^th in her second and third races in the women’s Laser Radial event, while compatriot Andrew Lewis finished 5th and 6^th in the 2^nd and 3^rd races for the men’s event.

In volleyball the men’s duo of Williams and Whitfield lost their opening game against Puerto Rico in straight sets (21:12 and 21:15). In football the men’s team suffered a tough defeat to Uruguay, losing their opening game 4-0. The warriors also lost the services of captain Alvin Jones, who received a red card and will have to sit out their next game against Paraguay on Friday. Competing in the men’s trap shooting competition, Anthony Maharaj is currently ranked 28^th after one day of qualifying action.

Trinidad & Tobago will continue the hunt for its first medal of this year’s Pan Am games later today in Men’s Field Hockey, Women’s Volleyball, Judo and Swimming. The women warriors will also play their second game against Columbia.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee partnered with the Tobago House of Assembly to host the first leg of its 13th annual Olympic Youth Camp in Shaw Park from July 6-11. The second leg will be held in Trinidad from July 20-25 at Olympic House. The theme this year - “10Golds24” - intends to encourage youngsters in the 11 to 14 age group to Strive for Excellence in their sporting discipline, but aims to encourage participants to remember that “the most important thing is not to win but to take part”.

Each day the athletes were exposed to the Olympic Principles of Fair Play, Respect for Others, Joy of Effort, Pursuit of Excellence and Balance between Body, Will and Mind.

Guest Facilitators included Akanni Hislop (Youth Olympian), Pietra Gay (Women’s NBA) and Sherridan Kirk (Olympian) who gave the athletes encouragement to pursue their goals, and were on hand to give sound sporting advice.

Some other interesting highlights for the participants was the inclusion of life skill sessions which focussed on Critical Thinking, facilitated by Save our Children Foundation, Sport for Development and Peace (Janine Thornhill, Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group member) and HIV/AIDS Awareness (Youth Department, THA).

The athletes were able to learn new sports from their fellow campers such as volleyball, chess, basketball, football and netball.

They were also exposed to Jump Rope (Thandiwe Prescott), Badminton and Tennis.

The closing of the camp was fashioned after the Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games with campers parading flags from London 2012 to Tokyo 1964 made for their art project.

Youth Facilitator, Camryn Bruno performed spoken word on the 2015 activities and the Olympic Oath. Kes the band’s Olympic song “Conquerors” was sung by the campers after the “Olympic Games”were officially declared open.

Campers have the opportunity each year to return as Youth Facilitators to assist the Camp Coordinators in leadership roles.

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