Report29 Jun 2015


Walcott returns home for championship record and first win of the year

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Keshorn Walcott at the 2015 Trinidad and Tobago Championships (© Curtis Chase/Trinidad Express)

Global champions Keshorn Walcott and Jehue Gordon enjoyed contrasting wins at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on the final day of the Trinidad and Tobago Championships on Sunday (28).

Walcott was in a class of his own in the javelin. The Olympic champion landed his spear at 84.84m in the first round to break his own championship record.

Walcott followed up with an 82.71m throw in round two.

Having thoroughly entertained his adoring home fans, the 22-year-old national hero then passed on his last four attempts and eventually won by more than seven metres.

Even though Walcott was a little down on his recent form in Europe, where he set national records of 86.20m and 86.43m at the IAAF Diamond League meetings in Rome and then Birmingham, he was still pleased with his first win of the year.

In contrast to Walcott, Gordon was forced to work hard for the men’s 400m hurdles title.

The world champion went out aggressively but defending national champion Emmanuel Mayers was still on level terms at the halfway point.

Gordon and Mayers were still battling stride for stride coming off the penultimate barrier but Gordon was stronger at the end, crossing the line in 50.06 with Mayers second in 50.24.

“It was definitely not easy,” Gordon told local media after the race. “These guys, they’re hungry. I just had to keep my eyes on my lane, use my experience, and bring my ‘A’ game at this point in time.

"The conditions, they were not too good with the wind, but hey, we all had to compete under the same circumstances. I guess I was the better man today."

Gordon will be in Beijing in late August to defend his world title.

"I would give it my best. It’s definitely not going to be easy but you know me, it’s always about making sure I’ll be at my best at that point in time. Once it comes to the championships, it’s not really about times, but making sure that we’re fit enough to go through the rounds, make it to the final, and bring home a medal."

Making it a double victory for the Walcott family on Sunday, his older brother Elton Walcott topped the men’s triple jump field with a wind-aided 16.40m effort. He also produced a legal 16.32m jump.

Kyle Greaux won the men’s 200m title in a personal best of 20.42 while Reyare Thomas captured the women’s 200m crown in a wind-assisted 22.97.

Cleopatra Borel reached 18.46m to enjoy a comfortable victory in the women’s shot put.

Kwame Laurence (Trinidad Express) for the IAAF

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