media_artricles :: 2013

Bledman retains 100m title

KELLY Ann Baptiste retained her women’s 100m title at the 2013 NAAA Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday evening.

The Zenith athlete stopped the clock at 10.83 seconds with a wind speed of 1.6, to erase her previous best of 10.84 which she set in 2010.

Baptiste finished ahead of Michelle-Lee Ahye in 11.06 and Kai Selvon 11.23 seconds.

She said later, while she was able to set a new national record, it was not an easy race as Ahye and Selvon pushed her, contributing to the new mark. Olympic silver medallist Keston Bledman retained his title as he crossed the line in 10.83 seconds with a wind speed of 3.2. Bledman who was initially disqualified for a false start in heat seven, ran the race under protest winning it in 10.19. According to NAAA president Ephrim Serrette Bledman was tripped

The Suplex athlete then won his semi-final heat in a time of 10.05 second to set up an exciting final. He finished ahead of double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson in 11.06 and Rondel Sorrillo who finished third in a time of 9.99 seconds.

Bledman said while he was initially disqualified, it did not affect him much as he was able to quickly refocus and in the end was able to accomplish his goal of retaining the title.

Meanwhile Olympic bronze medallist Deon Lendore dethroned double Olympic medallist Lalonde Gordon in the Men’s 400m final. The Abilene Wildcats athlete stopped the clock in a time of 45.29, ahead of London 2012 bronze medallist Jarron Solomon in 45.34 and former national champion Renny Quow in 45.65. Gordon had to settle for fourth in a time of 45.67 seconds. The Men’s Shot Put was won by Akeem Stewart of Tobago Falcons with a throw of 18.59m, while Kyran Blaise took the Long Jump at 7.87 m. The Women’s High Jump was won by Deandra Daniel of Dovers at 1.65.

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