media_artricles :: 2015

Golden Girl St Fort wins at Pan Am Juniors

Khalifa St Fort bolted to gold in the women's 100 metres dash at the Pan American Junior Track and Field Championships in Edmonton, Canada, on Friday night.

St Fort seized early control of the race, and was never threatened. The 17-year-old Trinidad and Tobago sprinter crossed the line in 11.31 seconds, well ahead of Aleia Hobbs, the silver medallist in 11.50. Hobbs' United States teammate, Teahna Daniels clocked 11.54 to pick up bronze.

Watch from TV6 Sports "Khalifa Gets Gold"
Thanks to her superb front-running effort, St Fort became only the second T&T athlete to capture Pan American Junior Championship women's 100m gold, following in the strides of 2011 champion Michelle-Lee Ahye.

Rhonda Watkins is the only other female athlete from T&T to strike gold at the hemispheric under-20 meet. Watkins won the high jump title back in 2005.

“The start was great,” said St Fort, following Friday's golden run. “Everyone told me that I resembled Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, which is wonderful.” The 2015 IAAF World Youth Championship 100m silver medallist was beaming with national pride. “I was happy I was able to make Trinidad and Tobago proud and bring home a gold for them.”

T&T also earned silver on Friday night, Portious Warren throwing the iron ball a personal best 15.57 metres for the runner-up spot in the women's shot put. American Raven Saunders was the class of the field, claiming gold with a massive championship record throw of 18.27m. Another American, Sophia Rivera produced a 15.34m effort to bag bronze.

The other T&T athlete in the field, Chelsea James threw 14.24m to finish fifth. Jeminise Parris was fourth in the women's 100m hurdles final, the T&T athlete getting home in 13.98 seconds. American Dior Hall won in 13.20, from Ecuador's Maribel Caicedo (13.45) and Jamaican Daeshon Gordon (13.70).

In the qualifying round, Parris clocked 13.84 seconds to finish fourth in heat two, progressing to the final as a “fastest loser”.

T&T's Andwuelle Wright fought hard in the men's long jump, disturbing the sand at 7.51m to secure fifth spot. Cuban Juan Miguel Echevarria emerged victorious with a 7.76m leap, forcing Bahamian Laquan Nairn to settle for silver at 7.65m. KeAndre Bates of the United States jumped 7.54m to secure bronze for his country.

Che Richards also represented T&T in the men's long jump. He finished 11th with a 7.08m jump.

After press time, last night, Aaron Lewis competed in the men's 110m hurdles final. Earlier yesterday, the T&T hurdler was fourth in heat one in 13.92 seconds, booking a lane in the final as a “fastest loser”.

Kayelle Clarke, however, was a non-finisher in her women's 200m qualifying heat. Today, Kenejah Williams throws in the men's shot put, Omari Benoit competes in the men's high jump, and the men's and women's 4x100m teams battle for precious metal.

Top