media_artricles :: 2013

Somebody, please call the FBI!

Keshorn, Kirani, Lalonde target PRs

Powerfully built and with sharp facial features, the handcuffed Russian man seated in the back row on Delta Air Lines Flight 030 at JFK International Airport on Monday afternoon pleaded incessantly for the intervention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The gentleman cut an intimidating picture, but was never going to be a threat to his fellow passengers. He was surrounded by law enforcement officers, one armed and in uniform, the others in plain clothes.

Wait! You might be wondering who made the error that resulted in an excerpt from an espionage novel getting into the sports pages of the Trinidad Express. Don’t be alarmed…or maybe you should be. This actually happened on my flight from New York, USA to Moscow, Russia.

I’m here now, in Moscow, to cover the 14th IAAF World Championships--minus my luggage. No, the aforementioned prisoner didn’t escape, rob me and hold me hostage at Sheremetyavo International Airport.

My story is not quite as exciting. Caribbean Airlines left my bag at Piarco on Monday morning, so that when BW 440 touched down in Grenada, only me and my carry-on were able to make the connection to New York, and the subsequent flight to Moscow.

As I write, on Wednesday evening, Moscow time, I’m still without my luggage.

But every dark cloud has a silver lining. In this case, though, the lining is golden.

Reigning Olympic and world men’s 400 metres champion, Kirani James was on the same flight, from New York to Moscow. His coach, American Harvey Glance, also arrived in Russia without luggage. So while Kirani waited for Harvey to fill out the necessary forms, Kwame grabbed the opportunity to interview the 20-year-old Grenadian.

“Go out there and perform well, have a personal best, win the World Championships. That’s the whole plan.”

James has a personal best of 43.94 seconds—the clocking he produced to grab Olympic gold last year.

The main threat to James as he bids to hold on to his world one-lap crown is LaShawn Merritt, the 2008 Olympic champion and 2009 World Championship gold medallist. James leads 2-1 in their three head-to-head meetings this season. But though Merritt has handed him his only 2013 defeat to date, James does not consider the American to be the only challenger for his title.

“I think everybody is a major contender. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here in the first place. I don’t take anything or anyone for granted. Everybody here has a clean slate, and everybody here has a fair chance of doing some great things.”

One athlete James will not have to worry about here in Moscow is Lalonde Gordon. The Trinidad and Tobago quartermiler bagged 400m bronze, behind James and Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos, at the London Olympics last year. In Moscow, however, he will not be on show in the one-lap event. Instead, Gordon will bid for honours in the 200m.

In an interview with the Express at Sheremetyavo International Airport on Tuesday night, Gordon said his goal here in Moscow is similar to the one he had set at the London Olympics.

“Same thing, just get through the rounds and make it to the final. And when I make the final, anything could happen.

“I got a little swelling in my knee,” he continued, “so that put me back a little bit--a week off for my knee to get drained, but it’s good now, so hopefully I’m back where I was.”

Gordon, who has a personal best of 20.26 seconds in the 200m, said he wants to go faster in Moscow.

“I don’t really like to talk time, but I’m looking to break 20.”

Keshorn Walcott is also hoping to better his best at the World Championships.

Just 19 at the time, Walcott shocked the world with gold in the men’s javelin at last year’s Olympic Games. The T&T thrower’s winning effort was 84.58 metres, a new national record.

Walcott opened his 2013 campaign on May 3 at the Twilight Games in Port of Spain, winning with an 84.39m throw—the second best of his career. But he picked up an ankle injury, and was unable to land the javelin beyond the 80-metre mark in his next four outings.

Walcott then opted out of a number of commitments, only returning to competition last Saturday, at the Kuortane Games, in Finland. During his seven-week break from competition, the 20-year-old successfully rehabilitated the ankle, and was able to produce an 82.24m effort in Finland, for fifth spot in a quality field of throwers.

While not fully satisfied with his throw, Walcott is anticipating a solid showing at the global championships.

“Just going out there and seeing where I’m at,” Walcott told the Express, while sitting in the team bus at Sheremetyavo International Airport, “so 82 was good enough for me. It was just a stepping stone. The distance, hopefully, will be better in the World Championships.”

Walcott added that his goals here in Moscow are “to remain healthy and get a personal best”.

With James, Gordon and Walcott among the many athletes targeting PRs (personal records), there is a lot to look forward to at the 14th IAAF World Championships.

I would like to see it all, however, in comfort, not wearing the same jersey I left home in early on Monday morning.

Here’s hoping my fugitive bag is caught soon, and deported to Moscow on the next available flight.

Somebody, please call the FBI.

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