media_artricles :: 2013

Gordon just misses medal with season best

Trinidad and Tobago’s track athletes failed to produce any podium finishes at the IAAF Diamond League’s seventh leg of competition, the Sainsbury Summer Series, which sprinted to a stop in Birmingham, England, yesterday.

This nation’s finest showing was derived by hurdler Jehue Gordon, who just missed out on medalling by finishing fourth in Men’s 400m hurdles. On his way to fourth, the Olympic finalist clocked a season’s best time of 49.02 seconds. This clocking saw Gordon better his previous year’s best of 49.05s, which was set in Guadeloupe in May.

The London Olympic sixth placed crossed the finish line behind Olympic bronze medallist Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, who clocked 48.59s, Great Britain’s Rhys Williams (49.93s) and Olympic silver medallist Michael Tinsley of the USA (48.94s) respectively.

However, Gordon’s credible fourth place performance saw him finish ahead of world champion David Greene of Great Britain (49.55s), who was fifth and Olympic gold medallist, Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (49.68s), who finished seventh.

Meanwhile, national record holder Mikel Thomas did not advance to the finals of the Men’s 110m hurdles. Competing in Heat Two, Thomas finished 12th fastest with a somewhat slow time of 13.61s.

Winning this event was American Aries Merritt who clocked a season’s best time of 13.23s. Bajan hurdler, Ryan Brathwaite received silver in 13.23s, with a slower reaction time, while Polish runner Artur Noga snatched bronze in a season’s best time of 13.38s.

Additionally, retaining national 100m champion, Keston Bledman was ousted in the semi-final stages of the Men’s 100m event. Contesting Heat One, Bledman finished fifth in 10.32s. However, this was the 10th fastest time overall. Only the top eight times advanced to the finals.

Winning gold in the 100m was multiple World Championships medallist Kim Collins of St Vincent in 10.13s, while Jamaican Kimmari Roach received silver in 10.23s and countryman Nesta Carter snatching bronze in 10.26s.

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