media_artricles :: 2013

Comissiong: CAC team can improve medal haul

GEORGE Comissiong, manager of the 34-member TT team for the 2013 CAC Track and Field Championships, believes this country can better the 14 medals achieved in the 2011 edition. This year’s Championships will be held from July 5-7 in Mexico with the TT team leaving for the tournament tomorrow afternoon.

Comissiong, the 1st vice-president of the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA), noted that the team, although not as strong as may have been expected, can improve on the six gold, three silver and five bronze achieved in 2011.

“I think we have a pretty strong team. Some of the top athletes are not going due to other commitments but we have a good combination of experience and youth. I don’t like to count medals before they’re won but I don’t see why we can’t better that (2011) performance,” he said. He noted that all the athletes are in top shape and he is expecting the best from them.

“Last week was the National Championships which was a trial for CAC and the World Championships. One would expect that the athletes are close to peak form because you don’t want to peak too early. I expect them to be in pretty good shape,” he declared.

Comissiong is also looking for a good performance from quarter-miler Renny Quow who missed last year’s Olympics due to injury. On Saturday, the Tobagonian clocked a fast 45.84 seconds to claim silver at the Edmonton Classic in Canada and much will be expected of him as he works his way back on the international stage. “He is going to run the individual 400m and 4x400m so that is an indication of how important this meet is to him,” the TT manager explained.

Comissiong noted that he will be keen to see the athletes set new personal marks in their respective disciplines even if they may not mount the rostrum at the conclusion of their events. “Normally this is the pep talk we give. You may not all win medals but you can do a personal best. Ideally, you want to win medals but you want to do a personal best. If you do your best then we cannot ask for more,” he pointed out. Among the big names competing this year are Quow, Jamol James (Men’s 100m), Jarrin Solomon, (Men’s 400m), Quincy Wilson (Men’s discus), Michell Lee Ahye (Women’s 200m), Sparkle McKnight (Women’s 400m hurdles), Cleopatra Borel (Women’s shot put) and Ayanna Alexander (Women’s long jump and triple jump). The TT 4x100 and 4x400m relay teams are also quite strong on paper and should contend for gold medals.

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