Ryan O’Neal of Guardian Group made a strong debut in the CariFin Games as he emerged the first leg leader after the completion of the CariFin Games One Lap Savannah event last week.

O’Neal headed out of the main pack and when he got into stride, no one was able to stay within striking distance. His was a solo effort to the finish line which he crossed in 14 minutes 28 seconds. It was a huge improvement over the 2014 winning time of 15.07 achieved by Jedidiah Benjamin of RBC, who finished third in this year’s edition in 15.56.

Defending cross country champion John Donaldson was second in 15:12 after he encountered trouble at the start by getting stuck in the pack.

“It felt good winning but it wasn’t anticipated, my team captain (Joella Richardson-Griffith) motivated me. It was a fantastic experience, also being my first time in CariFin Games,” O’Neal said.

“I felt a little bit disappointed because I got caught badly in the pack, I don’t know how I would of done exactly, I am looking forward to the Chancellor and Sevilla Cross country, because these have more pace from the start,” Donaldson reasoned about his failure to get closer to O’Neal.

Close to 1,000 participants, comprising walkers and runners, sped off in this race.

Ephraim Serrette, president of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) of Trinidad and Tobago, said that, “other industries should have similar events promoting health and fitness among their members”.

On the women’s side RBC’s Susan Russell, the 2014 Carifin cross country champion, completed the course in 17.47 ahead of Sagicor’s Adona Joseph in 18.19 and Jillette Landeau of team Guardian Group in 18.44 filling 3rd spot.

“My competition was not with the group of women, but more in terms of my personal times. I did a wonderful 17.47 but I was hoping to go below 18 minutes. Last year I did 19.05. Kudos to the team I train with, the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners Club.” Russell said.

Deodath Harrikissoon of First Citizens made it four in a row, having not been beaten in any of the four stages for the last 3 years, and now taking the 1st race for 2015 in 23.28, taking on all newcomers on the day, and making light work of the course,

“It was an overwhelming feeling winning for yet another year making it four in a row.” he said.

Clem Jubrasingh of RBC followed in second place in a time of 23.32 and Christopher Reid of Guardian Group in 24.49.

Aliyah Henry, representing Republic Bank, showed that she had the will, passion and determination after winning the race in 2014 in a time of 25.46. She returned in 2015 to post her first win in the four-part series, clocking 26.58.

...stun Mexico 30-16 in regional final

T&T’s Calypso Warriors yesterday officially regained its claim as the most successful tier three rugby union team in the region, by lifting the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (Nacra) Rugby Championship for the third time with a 30-16 win over Mexico at St mary’s ground in St Clair.

As with the North Zone championship win over Guyana two weeks ago, yesterday’s grand finale had its nervous moments from the home perspective but any doubt of a T&T win was put to rest late on with a brilliant solo try from Agboola Silverthorn.

No stranger to an impressive try, Silverthorn stole the show after receiving a pass from Andrew Taylor at mid-field, before darting past two sets of Mexico players, using tremendous agility and strength. Taylor converted to close the scoring.

That was T&T’s only try of the period and one that followed two second half tries from a revived Mexico, a team largely dominated in the first.

T&T went into the break with a comfortable 23-6 advantage, after Samuel Roberts (10th minute) and Jonathan O’Connor (31st) scored one try each, the latter of which was converted by Taylor, as well as another two penalties from Taylor. In the final minute of the first half, T&T was awarded five more points by the referee after a Mexico player was found guilty of pulling a try-bound Silverthorn by the hair.

O’Connor’s pushover try at the hour-hour mark, followed a minute after Mexico’s Marcus Flegmann was directed to the sin bin for an attempted punch at Ernest Wright.

Mexico was a different team after the break, probably inspired by a blow-out from the coach, Ruben Duque.

After the whistle sounded for the restart, Mexico resurfaced this time with a try from a fired up Flegmann, the same player temporarily ejected in the first half.

Then, on the hour mark, Felician Guerra had the honour of a temporary ejection himself, taking one for the T&T team, after failing to roll away after a tackle and with repeated warnings from the referee.

In the 67th minute, soon before Guerra returned, Mexico capitalised once again from the mounted pressure with a try from Simon Pierre.

Thereafter, T&T regained composure and some control, but did not look dangerous enough to extend the advantage. But it did come, and following a piece of magic from Silverthorn, a member of T&T’s sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, last year.

After a typically solid performance, T&T captain Adam Frederick gave his take on the match, but played down any suggestion that his team was played exceptionally well, at least in the second half.

“It could’ve been better. I always say that we could do better. But, the first half, I mean, there were no problems in the first half. It was effortless; it just came natural to us,” he said. “(In) the second half, we kind of went down. It wasn’t the best (half).”

Over the two periods, T&T’s chemistry had visibly improved from the narrow win over Guyana. There were fewer unforced errors and blunders. The passing and off-the-ball movement from T&T were fluid and quick, and the Warriors’ tackling, for the most part, was full and assertive.

Frederick, however, is adaman that as a whole, elementary improvements are necessary for this country to progress in international rugby.

“Catches on the kick-offs, the basic things, the restarts are the basic things that let us down. We need to be a little more secure.

“We definitely improved at each passing game. The boys have grown well together. It was our main focus and sticking to the game plan that actually did it for us.”

He, his teammates and the staff went on to lift the Nacra trophy for the first time in seven year. But just before, in a most fitting and pore-raising tribute to one of their former teammates, Frederick and company surrounded Jason “Moon” Clarke to celebrate with him as they performed their ritual chant. Clark, also a former Caribs stand-out was involved in an car accident three years ago, which left him paralysed and in a wheelchair.

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The national Rugby squad will be entering unchartered territory on Saturday when they face off against Mexico for the title of North America and Caribbean Rugby (NACRA) Champions, on the St Mary’s College Ground in St Clair. The annual championship decider pits the Northern pool champions against the winners of the Southern pool; TT, the recently-crowned Southern champions, and Mexico, their northern counterparts, have never met on a rugby field.

Mexico have produced impressive scores in winning their first Northern Championship; they outscored the USA South 50-25 in Mexico in early March, and followed with a 24-3 win over the Cayman Islands in Grand Cayman. TT started with a 44-7 rout of Barbados, and edged Guyana 22-20 to claim the Southern title.

Rugby fans can expect to see improvements in the home team. Following their win over Guyana, concerns were raised about the TT’s problems in handling the ball under pressure. National team head coach Larry Mendez said he would be working on the players’ physicality and composure, among other things. Additionally, TTRFU president Leslie Figaro said yesterday that TT were able to obtain a copy of the Mexican win over the Cayman Islanders. “We watched it, and we are structuring our game to counteract their strengths,” he told Newsday.

Plans to have the match played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium were stymied because of a Masters Track and Field event booked for the same day; however, Figaro believes the St Mary’s Ground could work to their advantage because of the closeness of the pavilion and the fact that spectators on the ground will be close to the action, just as it was when they defeated Guyana on the Fatima College Ground.

The Match Referee and one Touch Judge will be from the Cayman Islands, while the other will be a Guyanese; the game is scheduled to kick off at 3 pm.


TT team (from): Adam Frederick (Captain), Samuel Roberts, Travis Carmichael, Kareem Figaro, Wayne Kelly, Samuel Skeete, Joseph Quashie, Akiel Smith, Shakeer Flemming, Andrew Taylor, Ernest Wright, Jerome Poon Tip, Kirby Hosang, Felician Guerra, Agboola Silverthorn, Anderson Joseph, Keshorn Walker, Andre Cabrera, Andrew Welch, Jamal Clark, Jesse Richards, Johnason Alleyne, Aason Lewis, James Phillip, Christopher Hudson, Jonathon O’Connor, Brandon Goodridge.



Coach: Larry Mendez

Assistant Coaches: Dale Trotman, Willett Pantor

Manager: Ronald Annandsingh

Fitness Coordinator: Derek Ashby-Williams

Physiotherapist: Kemba Noel-London

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T&T’s women pair Apphia Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph, competing in Cayman Islands for the first time, will do so, with their main aim of preparing for next weekend’s CAZOVA Women’s first round 2016 Rio Olympic Qualifiers to be staged at Ochio Rios Bay Beach, Jamiaca, April 30 to May 5. The two earned T&T’s lone spot to compete in Cayman by winning the the five-stage T&TVF qualifiers ahead of Ayana Dyette and Nancy Joseph while Elki Phillip and Shenelle Gordon were third.

Last season, the women’s crown went to USA’s Tealle Hunkus and Kimberly McGiven-Dicello who defeated a resilient Canadian pair of Melissa Humana and Taylor Pischke in three sets, 21-23, 21-10, 15-9. But both teams are not in the Cayman Islands this year paving the way for Cuba’s Lianma Flores and Leila Martinez and USA’s Traci Weamer and Kendra Vanzwieten.

Last year, Flores and Martinez won the gold medal in Varadero, Cuba, a silver medal in T&T and the bronze in Antigua Guatemala. They also captured the title at the CAC Games in Veracruz. Weamer and Vanzwieten last year won a silver medal in Antigua Guatemala. Vanzwieten also won silver and bronze medals with Allison Daley in Manzanillo, Mexico and North Bay, Canada, respectively.

The countries represented in the competition are Barbados, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, T&T and USA.

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23 picked for IAAF World Relays

Trinidad and Tobago will bid for more precious metal at the May 2-3 IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.

At the inaugural edition, in Nassau last year, T&T performed with distinction, capturing three medals—one silver and two bronze—and finishing sixth on the points table.

Twenty-three athletes have been selected to represent the country at the second IAAF World Relays, including the four sprinters who teamed up for silver in the men’s 4x100 metres event in 2014—Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Rondel Sorrillo and Richard “Torpedo” Thompson. Also on the men’s sprint relay squad are Marcus Duncan, Emmanuel Callender and Kyle Greaux. The same seven athletes have been named for the men’s 4x200m event.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste returns to the T&T team following the completion of a 21-month doping ban. The Florida-based athlete is among six sprinters selected for the women’s 4x100m relay.

In 2014, Kamaria Durant, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Kai Selvon combined for bronze—the first-ever global medal from a T&T women’s relay team. All four sprinters have been chosen for World Relays duty in 2015, together with Baptiste and Lisa Wickham.

The men’s 4x400m team also bagged bronze in 2014, Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Jarrin Solomon producing a national record run of two minutes, 58.34 seconds. The same four quartermilers have been chosen for next weekend’s global relay championship. Carifta 2015 boys’ under-18 400m silver medallist, Jacob St Clair has been selected as back-up.

And five athletes have been named for the women’s 4x400m relay—Janeil Bellille, Romona Modeste, Alena Brooks, Josanne Lucas and Magnolia Howell.

Team T&T manager, Dexter Voisin told the Express, yesterday, he expects “great things” from his athletes at the IAAF World Relays.

“I want to view World Relays as the first leg in terms of preparation for the World Championships and Olympics. Basically, I would want to say we’re in a better position this time around in terms of the performances of the athletes.

“Kelly-Ann’s return strengthens the women’s team. Richard, Marc, all the athletes have had promising starts to the season, so once they get the stick around properly, I expect to be in the top three.

“I always ask the athletes to do their best. It’s a long season, though, and I don’t want to put too much pressure on them. But I expect great things from all the teams.”

The T&T athletes are scheduled to travel to Nassau next Wednesday.

TEAM T&T

Men’s 4x100m & 4x200m: Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Rondel Sorrillo, Marc Burns, Marcus Duncan, Emmanuel Callender, Kyle Greaux

Men’s 4x400m: Machel Cedenio, Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Jacob St Clair

Women’s 4x100m: Michelle-Lee Ahye, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Kai Selvon, Reyare Thomas, Kamaria Durant, Lisa Wickham

Women’s 4x400m: Janeil Bellille, Romona Modeste, Alena Brooks, Josanne Lucas, Magnolia Howell

Officials: Dexter Voisin (manager), Dr Ian Hypolite (coach), Charles Joseph (coach)

Medical: Dr Anyl Gopeesingh, Zephyrinus Nicholas, Verne Alleyne

SportAccord President Marius Vizer has apologised for the manner of his outburst against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) here this week, but defended his content before arguing how "everyone in the world of sport must be free to have an opinion".

Speaking at this morning's General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), Vizer was involved in a lengthy diatribe with ASOIF head Francesco Ricci Bitti, during which he was admonished for not checking the best way of "putting attention on what he wishes to achieve".

Vizer, here in his capacity as President of the the International Judo Federation (IJF), appeared humble but relatively composed when entering the room this morning, making sure he greeted representatives from virtually all of the other sports.

After requesting to changes to the proposed agenda to have his say, Vizer expressed regret "regarding my way and moment to choose this opportunity."

He added: "But, regarding the content, I express my voice and that is my opinion.

"I am sorry but think everyone in the world of sport is free to have an opinion, because that is the rule of sport."

This follows news yesterday that 27 of the 28 Olympic Summer Federations have suspended their SportAccord membership in response to Vizer's fierce criticism of the IOC system at Monday's (April 20) SportAccord General Assembly here, with the IJF the only exception.

In a strong response to Vizer's words, Ricci Bitti, also the International Tennis Federation President, claimed they believe the IOC is a "strong machine" and that it is a "waste of time trying to destabilise it".

He then said that, while the door remains open, SportAccord must be changed to avoid duplication with other bodies such as ASOIF, strongly criticising the presentation given during the General Assembly that highlighted a wide platform of measures.

"What we need is a SportAccord that gives the sport movement an added value, but not one that does not make us waste time," said the Italian.

He praised the SportAccord Convention as a "great initiative" , and said he hoped to work together to enable it to continue, while multi-sport events such as the Mind and Beach Games were also praised.

But SportAccord must be "more humble and practical", he said, citing the example of the body's work to combat integrity and match fixing as an unnecessary project because it essentially replicates work already being undertaken by the IOC.

Discussions on how to do this will begin tomorrow, he pledged, but predicted it would not be an easy process.

ASOIF vice-president and International Handball Federation head Hassan Mostafa called for a special meeting to be held between four key stakeholders in order to solve the dispute.

These are Vizer, Ricci Bitti, IOC President Thomas Bach and Association of National Olympic Committees chief Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, it was proposed.

More Articles …

  1. Olympic men to open against Suriname
  2. Baptiste in 23 T&T for World Relays
  3. Lewis sends athletic proposal to Sports Ministry
  4. Lewis: Exploit broadcast rights for athletes’ benefit
  5. Vizer accuses IOC of putting pressure on International Federations to withdraw from SportAccord
  6. Nick Butler: Crash, bang, wallop as sports politics is turned on its head at SportAccord Convention
  7. Amateur boxing in Siparia, Point
  8. Burns starts solid
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