TRINIDAD AND Tobago can expect to medal in both track and field events at this month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada. Yesterday, the National Association of Athletic Administrations (NAAA) released the final squad, which includes 20 male and 16 female athletes, as well as nine team officials.

Heading the list of gold medal contenders is Keshorn Walcott; the Olympic Men’s Javelin champion has found form, twice breaking his own national record during at successive Diamond League meets in Europe last month. Neither of the two men who have outdone the Toco-born athlete this year will compete in Toronto, since one hails from Kenya and the other from the Czech Republic. TT’s other outstanding medal hope in field competition is the evergreen Cleopatra Borel, who has also been consistent at her discipline this season.

As always, the red, white and black is expected to feature prominently in the sprints. The loss of three-time Olympic medalist Richard Thompson to injury notwithstanding, the sprint relay team will fancy its chances of mounting the prize rostrum, with Keston Bledman, Rondel Sorillo, Emmanuel Callender and Marcus Duncan among a squad of six registered for the event.

Bledman and Duncan will carry the hopes of TT in the 100 metres, while the Tobago-born duo of Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett will contest the women’s equivalent.

Baptiste appears to be in excellent shape, destroying the field in the final with a 10.84 second run at last weekend’s National Open Championship, while Bledman’s time of 9.86 in the men’s final underlined the fact that he should not be underestimated in Toronto. Despite the fact that Renny Quow won the 400 metres at the Open, it is the younger Machel Cedenio who has clocked the fastest times this season. They will both contest the Men’s 400 metres and spearhead TT’s bid for precious metal in the mile relay. Jarrin Solomon and Olympic bronze medalist Lalonde Gordon will be the other runners in the relay quartet. The other athletes may not be as well-known internationally, but they will all be striving to ensure that when the games are over, their names will be on the lists of finals, and possibly also on the medals listing.

George Commissiong is the team manager and Ian Hypolite is the head coach. The games will run from July 10-26.

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Injured Thompson calls off 2015 campaign

Reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott and 2013 IAAF World Championship men’s 400 metres hurdles gold medallist Jehue Gordon are among 35 athletes chosen to fly the Red, White and Black at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

Also among the 19 men selected on the Trinidad and Tobago track and field team are national 100m champion Keston Bledman and quartermiler Machel Cedenio.

Nineteen-year-old Cedenio crossed the finish line first in the NGC-Sagicor National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Open Track and Field Championship men’s 400m final, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Saturday. However, he was subsequently disqualified for running in Jarrin Solomon’s lane. Runner-up Renny Quow was upgraded to gold, while Solomon was promoted to silver.

Cedenio and Quow have been named to run the individual 400m event at the July 10-26 Pan Am Games. Solomon joins them in a six-man 4x400m relay pool that also includes 2012 Olympic 400m bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon, Kyle Greaux and Jehue Gordon.

Bledman and Marcus Duncan will run the individual 100m event in Toronto, and are also part of the 4x100m relay pool, The other athletes selected for the sprint relay are Rondel Sorrillo, Emmanuel Callender, sprint hurdler Mikel Thomas, and Dan-Neil Telesford.

Greaux and Sorrillo will run in the 200m event.

Walcott’s older brother, Elton Walcott has been selected for the men’s triple jump. And Quincy Wilson will represent T&T in the discus.

Missing from the Pan Am Games men’s team are three-time Olympic medallist Richard “Torpedo” Thompson and quartermiler Deon Lendore. According to a press release from the NAAA, yesterday, Thompson will “sit out the rest of the 2015 track season due to a recurring injury which has been interfering with his day to day training.

‘This will give him more time to recuperate,” the release continued, “and prepare for the Olympics in Rio 2016.” On Saturday, Thompson competed in the 100m semis, but struggled with a knee injury. He qualified for the final, but did not face the starter. Lendore is also injured, and did not compete at the Championships.

Michelle-Lee Ahye finished second to Kelly-Ann Baptiste in the women’s 100m final, but was not at full fitness, and has opted out of the Pan Am Games. NAAA public relations officer Peter Samuel told the Express, yesterday, “Ahye has a hamstring grade two muscle strain”.

Baptiste and Semoy Hackett will do battle for T&T in the Pan Am Games women’s 100m dash.

Pan Am Games team

Men: Keston Bledman (100, 4x100), Marcus Duncan (100, 4x100), Kyle Greaux (200, 4x400), Rondel Sorrillo (200, 4x100), Machel Cedenio (400, 4x400), Renny Quow (400, 4x400), Mikel Thomas (110 hurdles, 4x100), Jehue Gordon (400 hurdles, 4x400), Emanuel Mayers (400 hurdles), Elton Walcott (triple jump), Steve Waithe (triple jump), Quincy Wilson (discus), Emmanuel Stewart (discus), Keshorn Walcott (javelin), Shakiel Waithe (javelin), Emmanuel Callender (4x100), Dan-Neil Telesford (4x100), Jarrin Solomon (4x400), Lalonde Gordon (4x400)

Women: Kelly-Ann Baptiste (100, 4x100), Semoy Hackett (100, 4x100), Reyare Thomas (200, 4x100), Kamaria Durant (200, 4x100), Janeil Bellille (400, 4x400), Josanne Lucas (400 hurdles, 4x400), Sparkle McKnight (400 hurdles, 4x400), Deandra Daniel (high jump), Ayanna Alexander (triple jump), Cleopatra Borel (shot put), Marsha Mark-Baird (heptathlon), Lisa Wickham (4x100), Peli Alzola (4x100), Romona Modeste (4x400), Jessica James (4x400), Alena Brooks (4x400)

Officials: George Comissiong (manager), Ian Hypolite (head coach), Charlie Joseph (coach), Gunness Persad (coach), Nicconnor Alexander (coach), Robin Brereton (coach), Michelle Pennie (coach), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (coach), Wade Franklyn (coach)

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The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) has submitted its entire roster for the 2015 Pan American Games, which will be held from July 10 to July 26 in Toronto.

The entire Trinidad and Tobago team, which will be led by Chef de Mission Diane Henderson, is as follows:

Athletics: Keston Bledman, Marcus Duncan, Rondel Sorrillo, Mikel Thomas, Emmanuel Callender, Dan-Eil Telsford, Kyle Greaux, Machel Cedenio, Emanuel Mayers, Elton Walcott, Steve Waithe, Quincy Wilson, Emmanuel Stewart, Shakeil Waithe, Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Jehue Gordon, Keshorn Walcott, Kelly- Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett, Reyare Thomas, Kamaria Durant, Lisa Wickham, Peli Alzola, Janeil Belille, Romona Modeste, Jessica James, Alena Brooks, Sparkle McKnight, Josanne Lucas, Ayanna Alexander, Deandra Daniel, Cleopatra Borel, Marsha Mark Baird;



Aquatics: George Richard Bovell III, Dylan Carter, Christian Marzden;



Badminton: Nicholas Bonkowsky;



Beach Volleyball: Daneil Williams, Fabien Whitfield, Ayana Dyette, Malika Davidson;



Boxing: Chimere Taylor;



Cycling: Njisane Phillip, Quincy Alexander, Jude Codrington, Justin Roberts, Varun Maharajh, Emile Abraham;



Football (Men): Montell Joseph, Shannon Gomez, Maurice Ford, Alvin Jones, Jesus Perez, Neveal Hackshaw, Jomal Williams, Tristan Hodge, Nathaniel Garcia, Kadeem Corbin, Shackiel Henry, Xavier Rajpaul, Dwight Quintero, Jelani Felix, Neil Benjamin, Dario Holmes, Aikim Andrews, Jovan Sample;



Football (Women): Kennya Cordner, Tasha St Louis, Karyn Forbes, Kimika Forbes, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Rhea Belgrave, Janine Francois, Arin King, Patrice Superville, Dernelle Mascall, Mariah Shade, Khadidra Debesette, Ayanna Russell, Ahkeela Mollon, Brianna Ryce, Shalette Alexander, Lauryn Hutchinson, Shenelle Henry;

Golf: Monifa Sealy, Christina Ferreira, Talin Rajendranath, Sachin Kumar;



Gymnastics: William Albert, Marisa Dick;



Hockey: Darren Cowie, Solomon Eccles, Shaquille Daniel, Mickel Pierre, Akim Toussaint, Che Modeste, Christopher Scipio, Dillet Gilkes, Jordon Reyos, Aidan De Gannes, Kiel Murray, Stefan Mouttet, Tariq Marcano, Andrey Rocke, Kristien Emmanuel, Ishmael Campbell;



Judo: Christopher George;



Sailing: Andrew Lewis, Kelly-Ann Arrindell.

Shooting: Marlon Moses, Anthony Maraj, Roger Daniel;



Taekwondo: Dorian Alexander.

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Japan set-up a rematch of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup final with the United States as Laura Bassett’s late own goal handed them a tense 2-1 victory over England at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Just as the hard-fought contest looked set for extra-time, Bassett inadvertently sliced her clearance into her own net via the crossbar in the second minute of time added on at the end of the match to hand the defending champions a dramatic victory.

The dramatic conclusion, which was harsh on an England team that had more than held their own throughout the match, came after both sides scored penalties in a thrilling first-half.

Japan's Aya Miyama had broken the deadlock from the spot just after the half-hour mark.

England responded quickly and restored parity on 40 minutes when Fara Williams also converted a penalty.

But, despite England's best efforts, Bassett’s cruel misfortune ensured their World Cup dream ended at the semi-final stage as Japan progressed to the tournament’s showpiece match, where they will have the chance to defend the title they won on penalties in Frankfurt four years ago.

The United States will be out for revenge following their defeat four years ago.

They reached the final by virtue of a 2-0 success against world number one ranked Germany in Montreal yesterday.

The English team began brightly and Jodie Taylor was unfortunate to see her effort from distance fly just wide of the post.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Olympic silver medallists went in front as Claire Rafferty was adjudged to have fouled Saori Ariyoshi in the penalty-area, despite replays clearly showing the incident occurred outside.

Japan captain Miyama stepped up to coolly convert the resulting penalty but England hit back with a leveller five minutes before the interval.

Yuki Ogimi was the guilty party as she was pulled up for a foul on marauding full-back Steph Houghton and Williams followed Miyama’s lead, crashing home her penalty.

The evenly-poised nature of the semi-final continued after the break, although England could have turned the contest on its head but Toni Duggan’s shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Jill Scott then had a decent chance but she guided her header wide of the post before the introduction of Mana Iwabuchi brought about a momentum change in favour of Japan.

She jinked her way into the area but hit her shot the wrong side of the posts.

With the scores level, Bassett accidentally diverted the ball into her own net, prompting desolate tears from the England defender and elation for Japan, who will meet the United States in the final at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday (July 5).

England, meanwhile, will return to the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton to take on Germany in the third-place play-off on Saturday (July 4).

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VETERAN TRINIDAD and Tobago rifle shooter Roger Daniel is bracing for the challenge he will expect at the Pan American Games, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, from July 10-26.

At the 2011 edition in Guadalajara, Mexico, the 45-year-old Daniel earned a silver medal in the men’s 10-metre air pistol and, this month, he will be seeking another piece of silverware, in his third Pan Am Games.

During an interview on Monday, the Defence Force standout said, “this time around, I know it’s even more challenging because the rules in the sport (have) changed.

“But I believe this time, a gold is the goal. I feel more confident, I feel stronger, much more secure in the sport,” he added.

The 10-metre air pistol will take place on July 12 at the Pan Am Shooting Centre in Innisfil.

The event consisted of two rounds — a qualifier and a final. In the qualifier, each shooter fired 60 shots with an air pistol at 10 metres distance. Scores for each shot were in increments of one, with a maximum score of 10.

The top eight shooters in the qualifying round moved on to the final round. There, they fired an additional 10 shots. These shots scored in increments of .1, with a maximum score of 10.9. The total score from all 70 shots was used to determine final ranking.

Daniel commented, “the way it has changed, you’ll definitely have to increase (your) training and muscular endurance because it’s more crowd-orientated. No longer it’s points going forward to the finals, now it’s more concentration, it’s a longer time.”

Stating that his preparations has been “very good”, Daniel does not see himself retiring from competitive rifle shooting anytime soon.

“The sport affords you to go as long as you can hold the unit, really and truly,” he said. “Look Joe Costa just won in the United States and he’s aged 50. So he has won the World Championship twice, back-to- back.

“So I’m not putting it past (me). My sport allows me to go at that age and beyond, so if I’m afforded to go, I will do it,” he ended.

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…locals second on medal table, third overall