Triple Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson and National sprint queen Kelly-Ann Baptiste opened their 2016 season with second place finishes at the LSU Performance Meet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday. Thompson was second in the men’s 60m dash in 6.74 seconds. The national 100m record holder was beaten to the line by Gabriel Mvumvure of Zimbabwe (6.69) with another local sprinter Shermund Allsop in sixth (6.89).
Baptiste, the 2011 World Championships 100m bronze medallist, crossed the line in 7.35 seconds to finish behind Jamaican Samantha Robinson-Henry (7.27) and ahead of American Rushel Harvey (7.45). Reigning World Youth 100m silver medallist Khalifa St Fort was fourth in 7.54 with another TT sprinter Trishelle Leacock in seventh (7.69).
In the preliminaries, Baptiste also clocked 7.35 while St Fort was sped to 7.52 second.
Baptiste and St Fort were members of TT ’s women’s 4x100m team which earned bronze at the 2015 World Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Kyron Blaise also took silver in the men’s long jump with 7.35m Domonique Williams (Alabama) took the women’s 400m at the Tyson Invitational on Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas with a time of 53.80 while Deandra Daniel (Coppin State) had to settle for second in the women’s high jump at the MidEastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Track and Field Champs in Landover, Maryland (February 11-13). Daniel cleared 1.76 but surrendered the title she won in 2015 as Jailah Mason (Morgan State) took the top spot in 1.86. Morgan also broke Daniel’s Championships record of 1.85. Fellow Coppin State team-mates Mark London (men’s 800m- 1:53.02) Khemani Roberts (women’s heptathlon- 3403) also won silver medals.
Olympic relay men’s 4x400m bronze medallist Ade Alleyne Forte missed out on a top three finish in the men’s 400m at the Don Kirby Open in Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was fourth in 46.99.
Meanwhile, Zakiya Denoon is the top 60m/200m sprinter on the US Collegiate Junior College rankings. The Speyside High graduate has recorded the fastest times over 60m (7.39) and 200m (23.64). Her 7.39 was a Monroe College school record and led to her being voted the Top Female Junior College Athlete of Week on January 19.
The Central Arizona duo of Portious Warren (women’s shot put) and Reubin Walters (men’s 60m hurdles) are at number one in their events. Warren heads the women’s shot put with a 16.16m throw on Friday.
The 2015 Pan American Junior Championships silver medallist is also sixth in the women’s weight throw with 17.24m. Walter is ahead of the field in the men’s 60m hurdles with his 7.83 posting on Friday.
The 2014 World Junior 110m hurdles finalist also sits at 15th in the 200m (21.76).
In the NCAA Division One rating Dendra Daniel (Coppin State) is at 28th in the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.79 set on January 29 while Domonique Richards (Alabama) is listed at 32nd in the women’s 400m with a time of 53.80..”