Gordon in today’s 400m hurdles semisSaturday, August 4 2012
THE TRINIDAD and Tobago trio of Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett and Michelle Lee Ahye all advanced to today’s semi-final Round of the women’s 100-metre sprint in the 30th Olympic Games in London, England.
In yesterday’s First Round phase at the Olympic Stadium, Baptiste, the national 100m queen, eased up near the finish line to claim victory in heat one in 10.96 seconds. The 25-year-old defeated France’s Myriam Soumare (11.07) and Germany’s Verena Sailer (11.12).
The 23-year-old Hackett clocked a personal best time of 11.04 to finish second in heat six, behind reigning Olympic title-holder Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica (11 seconds flat).
And Lee Ahye, the 20-year-old, was third in heat four in a time of 11.28 seconds, trailing Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (10.93) and United States’ Tianna Madison (10.97).
In today’s semi-final phase — scheduled for 2.35 pm - Baptiste was drawn in lane five of heat two (between US’ Allyson Felix in lane four and Fraser-Pryce); Hackett will be in lane five of heat one (Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown is in lane four while US’ Carmelita Jeter is in lane six); and Lee Ahye will face the starter’s gun in lane two of heat three.
The top two finishers in each heat, plus the fastest two losers, will progress to today’s Final, which is carded for 4.55 pm. Jehue Gordon will be involved in today’s 400m hurdles semi-final, from 2 pm - he will feature in heat one (of three heats), with the top two and the fastest two losers moving on to Monday’s Final.
In heat five yesterday, the 20-year-old clocked a time of 49.37 to finish second, behind American Angelo Taylor (49.29).
Today, he will feature in heat one, alongside the highly-rated trio of Trinidad-born American Kerron Clement, Great Britain’s David Greene and Dominican Republic’s Felix Sanchez.
Ayanna Alexander failed to progress to tomorrow’s Final of the women’s long jump - the top 12 jumpers moved to the deciding phase.
The 29-year-old was seventh in Group “B” with a best of 14.09m, the 14th best effort on the day.
Swimmer George Bovell III, in his last event of the Games, placed seventh in the 50m freestyle in 21.82 seconds.
Florent Manaudou of France clinched gold in 21.34, followed by Cullen Jones of the United States (21.54) and Cesar Cielo of Brazil (21.59).
In sailing, in the Men’s Laser Class, Andrew Lewis continued to find the going tough at Weymouth and Portland. Lewis placed 34th in Race Seven and 46th in Race Eight and, after entering the day in 42nd spot with 243 points, he dropped down three notches to 45th with 323 points.
Tom Slingsby of Australia regained the lead, after winning Race Eight but finishing 15th in Race Seven for a total of 38 points.
Overnight leader Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus was 12th in Race Seven and seventh in Race Eight for a tally of 40 points while Tonci Stipanovic of Croatia remained in third spot with 60 points.
Only the top 10 will advance to Monday’s final, therefore the 22-year-old Lewis’ participation at the Games will end today with Races Nine and Ten.
Similar to yesterday’s women 100m format, there will be four rounds in the men’s 100m. Today will be Preliminary Round for entrants without the minimum qualifying standard (5 am), the First Round (7.30 am), followed by tomorrow’s Semi Finals and Final.
2008 Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson, national champ Keston Bledman, veteran Marc Burns and Rondel Sorrillo are the Trinidad and Tobago quartet expected to feature in the Preliminary Round.
The men’s 400m sprints will get going today with the First Round, from 5.35 am.
Renny Quow has been drawn in lane five of heat one, alongside South Africa’s “blade runner” Oscar Pistorius (lane six), while Deon Lendore is in lane three of heat two, with World Champion Kirani James of Grenada in lane six.
