PAN AM GAMES

Machel Cedenio added to Trinidad and Tobago’s medal bag at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, yesterday. The 19-year-old athlete clocked 44.70 seconds to seize silver in the men’s 400 metres event.

Dominican Republic’s 2012 Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos was golden this time, capturing the title with a 44.56 run. The bronze medal was bagged by Kyle Clemons in 44.84, the American just getting the better of Costa Rica’s Nery Brenes (44.85).

The other T&T quarter-miler in the final, Jarrin Solomon completed his lap of the track in 45.20 seconds to finish fifth.

Cedenio’s silver takes the T&T medal haul in Toronto to four, adding to Cleopatra Borel’s women’s shot put gold, cyclist Njisane Phillip’s men’s sprint silver, and swimmer George Bovell’s men’s 50m freestyle bronze.

Cedenio, the 2014 world junior champion, is only the fourth T&T athlete in Pan Am Games history to earn a 400m medal.

Basil Ince was the first. His silver, though, was as part of the British West Indies team that represented the region in 1959. Cliff Bertrand claimed bronze in 1963. And in 1991, Ian Morris snapped up silver in the one-lap event.

Bertrand has three Pan Am medals. One of them, however, was as part of the men’s 4x100m British West Indies team in 1959. In addition to his 400 bronze in T&T colours in 1963, he took home bronze in the sprint relay.

Reyare Thomas qualified for today’s women’s 200m final when she clocked a wind-aided 22.88 seconds for fifth spot in the second semifinal. She progressed to the 5.40pm championship race as a “fastest loser”.

Thomas’ T&T teammate, Kamaria Durant was fourth in the opening semi in 22.94. The clocking was not fast enough to earn her a lane in the championship race.

Durant was on fire in the first round. She won heat two in a personal best 22.74 seconds, but could not repeat that performance in the semis and was eliminated.

In the opening first round heat, Thomas was third in 23.30.

T&T’s Quincy Wilson finished 10th in yesterday’s men’s discus event with a 43.65 metres throw.

T&T will not be represented in the men’s 200m final. In the semi-final round, Rondel Sorrillo finished sixth in heat two in 20.61 seconds, and Kyle Greaux was seventh in heat one in 20.69. Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer assumed the favourite’s mantle when he won the opening semi in a personal best 19.80--a new Pan Am Games record.

In round one, Greaux secured an automatic semi-final berth when he finished third in heat two in 20.75 seconds. Sorrillo, fifth in heat three in 20.63, advanced as a “fastest loser”.

Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott is tipped for gold in today’s men’s javelin. His T&T teammate, Shakiel Waithe is also in the field. The event is scheduled to start at 5.35pm.

At 10.20 this morning, Mikel Thomas competes in the opening round of the men’s 110m hurdles.

Walcott’s elder brother, Elton Walcott will bid for honours in the men’s triple jump. That event starts at 11.35am.

The Red, White and Black will also be on show today in the four relay events. The men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams will bid for championship race berths.

At 9.00am tomorrow, the T&T men’s hockey team will do battle with Cuba in the seventh-place playoff. Yesterday, United States edged T&T 2-1, and Mexico got the better of the Cubans 3-1.

United States went ahead in the 27th minute through William Holt. Tariq Marcano struck back for T&T in the 36th. But just two minutes later, Tyler Sundeen restored the lead for the Americans.

T&T and Cuba battled to a 2-2 draw when they met in a Pool “A” match, last week.

Source

Thursday July 23^rd, Toronto, Canada– World Junior Champion Machel Cedenio finished second, claiming a silver medal for Trinidad and Tobago in the men’s 400 metre final with a time of 44.70. Fellow quarter miler Jarrin Solomon was 5^th in 45.20. Trinidad and Tobago’s medal total at this year’s Pan Am Games now stands at four thanks to the efforts of Cedenio, Cleopatra Borel, Njisane Phillip and George Bovell. Cedenio like Phillip will also receive the silver medal bonus from the 10Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation fund.

Following his run he said, “This feels good. I’m satisfied with my run. Thank god I came out injury free.” Cedenio expressed surprise at the medal bonus programme from the TTOC saying, “That’s really good. It’s extra motivation to climb the podium.” World Champs and Stockholm are up next for this young champion and newly minted Pan Am Silver medallist.

Compatriot Solomon also took heart in his performance saying, “I’m in good shape and I’m ready to run fast at worlds. It will happen. I can run the times the medallists are running.”

In the women’s 200m Kamaria Durant finished 4^th in her semi-final heat in a time of 22.94, while Reyare Thomas finished 5^th in a time of 22.88. Thomas will advance to tomorrow’s final as one of the two fastest losers. Earlier in the day, Durant ran a new personal best in qualifications with a time 22.74. Following that race she said,  “The sun was really hot but I’m really happy I was able to overcome the heat and run a personal best. Hopefully I can go faster and cut that time down in the semis.” Unfortunately Durant wasn’t able to do so and will not advance to the finals.

Over on the men’s side Kyle Greaux and Rondel Sorillo were unable to advance to the final.  Greaux finished 7^th in semi final one in a time of 20.69. The winner of that race Jamaican Richard Dwyer broke the 44-year-old Pan Am record with a time of 19.80. Rondel Sorillo finished 6^th in semi final two with a time of 20.61. Following his race Sorillo said, “I felt flat. Today wasn’t a good day. Relays are next.”

In the discus, Quincy Wilson finished 10^th. Of his performance he said, “It wasn’t great. I had nothing to lose but unfortunately I wasn’t on my A game.” Out in field hockey, the men’s team lost their 5^th to 8^th round match against the United States 2-1.

Track and field action continues tomorrow with relay qualifications and the men’s javelin final featuring national record holder, Keshorn Walcott.