By KEVIN SUNICH Saturday, August 18 2012

THE 2012 WORLD Juniors bronze medallist Machel Cedenio said despite not getting an opportunity to hit the track at the Olympics in London, he was just happy to be there.

“I was so glad to be there in person and get a chance to see the world’s top athletes compete on one of the biggest stages.

I could not have asked for anything better.

I would have loved to get a chance to represent my country, but that was not the case”,

Cedenio anchored Trinidad and Tobago’s 4x 400m relay team that comprised Asa Guevara, Jereem Richards and Brandon Benjamin.

The 16-year-old quarter miler was one of the two stand byes for the 4X400 TT Olympic team.

Cedenio who was TT’s youngest member said he was overjoyed with the performance of his teammates especially Keshorn Walcott who won the country’s second gold medal in 36 years.

He said this performance will no doubt have a tremendous impact on him as he sets his eyes on the next Olympics in Rio 2016.

“I am hoping that I could.”

While he will be eligible for the next World Juniors in 2014, Cedeno said he will be focusing on the real deal.

“The world juniors does not get the recognition that the Olympics would get and so I am not very concerned with that.

While I am hoping to be there the next two years and do well, my eyes are set on Rio 2016.

I want to be the next gold medallist for TT and I intend to do all that I can to get to the level that will ensure that I am able to compete”, he said.

Cedenio was among the TT Olympians who were distributing relief hampers to flood victims in Diego Martin and Carenage on Thursday.