media_artricles :: 2015

Cedenio in 400 final - Walcott bows out early

Machel Cedenio became the youngest Trinidad and Tobago athlete to qualify for an IAAF World Championship 400 metres final when he clocked 44.64 seconds for third spot in the third and final semi-final heat at the Bird's Nest Stadium here in Beijing, China, yesterday.

Nineteen-year-old Cedenio changed his race tactics for the semis, going out harder than usual in order to stay in close touch with his rivals. He did just that, coming off the final turn close to the front. But there was a cost involved. The 2014 world junior champion lacked his usual finishing power, and had to settle for third spot in the heat, behind South African Wayde van Niekirk and (44.31) and defending champion LaShawn Merritt (44.34) of the United States.

Cedenio had given his all, and was totally exhausted. He lay flat on the ground in the interview area, before rising to his feet to speak to the Express. As a third-place finisher, he did not advance automatically to the men's one-lap final.

On hearing news of his qualification as one of two “fastest losers”, Cedenio gave this response: “I did? Fuh real? Yuh Lie?”

There was relief in the young man's voice. The hard work that had him on his back moments before was not in vain.

“It was a hard heat, probably the hardest heat out there. But I went out and just gave it my all, and I'm in the final. I'll just focus on my final and see what happens.”

Cedenio said he might have to revisit his tactics ahead of tomorrow's championship race.

“I probably should go back to what I'm accustomed doing, but I'm going to listen to my coach and trust what he says.”

Before the third semi-final, another T&T quarter-miler, Lalonde Gordon was poised to get into the final as the second of the two “fastest losers” after earning fourth spot in heat two in 44.70 seconds. But he was nudged out by Cedenio for the eighth and final championship race berth, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist finishing ninth overall.

“I didn't run smart at all,” a disappointed Gordon told the Express. “I'm not satisfied.”

Renny Quow was also nudged out by Cedenio…as T&T's youngest ever World Championship 400m finalist. Quow was 21 when he captured bronze at the 2009 edition of the meet in Berlin, Germany. Here in Beijing, however, he was eliminated at the semi-final stage, finishing fifth in heat one in 44.98 seconds.

Quow, who ran in lane four, told the Express he had been hoping for a different lane draw.

“This type of track, the race is out in front in those outer lanes, nine, eight, seven, six. These are the best lanes to get on this particular track because it's such a wide corner. I wish I had a better lane so I could have done something because I ran pretty well. I just kind of tied up in the end and it cost me.”

Keshorn Walcott is the reigning Olympic men's javelin champion. He has not had any luck, though, at the IAAF World Championships. On debut, back in 2013, the T&T thrower was 18th in the qualifying competition with a 78.78 metres throw. Things got worse yesterday, Walcott landing the spear 76.83m to finish 13th in Group “A” and 26th overall. The top 12 throwers progressed to the final.

Walcott had been struggling with an injury ahead of the World Championships, but told the Express his troublesome ankle was not to blame for his early elimination.

“It was just a bad competition for me. I expected better. I had some good training after recovering from my ankle, so I was expecting to do much better but I guess luck wasn't on my side today. I didn't feel bad in my technique, but the distance just wasn't coming.

“The World Championship doesn't seem to be my thing. The second time around and same result. I have been throwing really good in training, so maybe it's the lack of competition after the injury. I guess I just have to move on.”

Sparkle McKnight's Beijing 2015 campaign ended in the semi-final round of the women's 400m hurdles. The T&T athlete finished fifth in heat two in 56.21 seconds. She had run faster in the opening round, getting home in 55.77 for second spot in heat one.

“I didn't have as much control of the race,” McKnight told the Express, “as I did in the first round, knowing it was the semi-final, knowing I had more competition, knowing I had more at stake. I think that played a big part in my time.

“I have a lot of work to put in,” she continued. “My love for the sport is growing every day, and I'm ready to put in the work to do what I have to do to make it to the Olympic final next year.”

Kyle Greaux will be in action for T&T at 8.12 this morning (TT time) in the seventh and final men's 200m first round heat. And late tonight, Mikel Thomas runs in the opening round of the men's 110m hurdles.

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