Kelly-Ann Baptiste (centre) wins the Trinidad & Tobago 100m title in 10.83 (© Anisto Alves/Trinidad Express)
Kelly-Ann Baptiste bolted to a national 100m record at the Trinidad & Tobago Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Saturday (22), stopping the clock at 10.83 to retain her national title.
Baptiste separated herself from the field early on before pulling away for a commanding victory. The US-based athlete bettered her own Trinidad and Tobago standard—the 10.84 clocking she had produced in Florida, USA, back in 2010.
The World bronze medallist is now at the top of the 2013 world performance list, moving past newly-crowned US champion English Gardner and her fellow American Barbara Pierre, both sprinters having clocked 10.85 at the US Championships in Iowa on Friday.
Michelle-Lee Ahye was the best of the rest in Saturday’s final at the Crawford Stadium, clocking a personal best of 11.06 for silver behind Baptiste while bronze was bagged by Kai Selvon in 11.23.
Keston Bledman held on to his national 100m title with a wind-assisted scorcher in the final. Pushed by 3.2m/s tailwind, the Olympic semi-finalist clocked 9.86, matching his time from last year’s national championships when the wind was legal.
Richard Thompson, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist, finished second in 9.91, and Rondell Sorrillo clocked 9.99 to secure third spot.
Bledman led all qualifiers into the final with a windy 10.05 run in the first of three semifinal heats.
On Friday, Bledman was disqualified for a false start in his preliminary round heat, but ran under protest and won the race in 10.19. He also won the protest, and was free to compete in the semis.
Deon Lendore continued his fine run of form this season with an impressive victory in the men’s 400m final.
Jarrin Solomon looked threatening in the one-lap showdown, but when the athletes turned for home, it was Lendore who had the advantage. Renny Quow was in hot pursuit, but Lendore was strong enough to repel Quow’s challenge.
Solomon dug deep to produce a superb finish, but could not overhaul Lendore, the 2013 NCAA silver medallist securing gold in 45.29.
Solomon clocked 45.34, the second-fastest time of his career, to pick up silver. And Quow bagged bronze in 45.65, finishing just ahead of Lalonde Gordon, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist copping fourth spot in 45.67.
The Championships continue tomorrow.
Kwame Laurence (Trinidad Express) for the IAAF
