IN front the largest crowd for the week at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the TT mixed 4x100-metre relay team did not disappoint copping bronze in the penultimate athletics event of the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games on Thursday.
The quartet of Sanaa Frederick, Trevaughn Stewart, Sole Frederick and Jamario Russell stopped the clock in 42.77 seconds. Nigeria took gold in 42.68 and England grabbed silver in 42.71.
Earlier in the day, Sole was devastated after missing out on a medal in the women's 200m final. She was satisfied to make amends.
"It feels good. I really thank my team. It just feels good to come home with a medal," Sole said.
Anchorman Russell said, "I am proud of my team to be honest. I am happy with the outcome. All of us ran our lives out and to me that's all that really matters."
TT's Keeran Sriskandarajah was eighth in the men's 800m final in one minute, 59.89 seconds (1:59.89). Kenyan Kelvin Koech snatched gold in the event in 1:50.14, Miles Waterworth of England was second in 1:52.21 and Scotland's Caleb McLeod grabbed bronze in 1:52.83.
Sriskandarajah, who achieved a personal best in the semi-final, did not have the best race in the final.
After 200m, the TT athlete was seventh in the eight-man field. With 200m left he dropped into eighth position and remained there until the end.
"I am happy to get into the final. At the start of the season my main goal was to get to this final and to execute. Obviously I had to run a PB to get into the final so I am quite happy to do that," Sriskandarajah said.
The English-based Sriskandarajah said he is elated to represent TT, where his mother was born.
Koech said he "expected" to win the race.
Second-placed Waterworth said the experience in TT has been memorable. "Overall it has been amazing. I've met so many nice people, I've made so many friends from not only England but from other teams that had been around. The country is a lovely place. I never met someone who did not smile at me, did not say hello to me. A fantastic place to be and I am so grateful to be here."
[caption id="attachment_1029757" align="alignnone" width="768"] A little boy happily waves his national flag at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
In the women's 200m final, Sole finished fifth in 24.07 seconds. She was seen being consoled by her coach and fellow 200m competitors.
Winning gold was Nigerian Faith Okwose in 23.36 and Justina Eyakpobeyan, also of Nigeria, took silver in 23.47. La'nica Locker of Antigua and Barbuda was third in 23.56.
Talking about the support she got from her home crowd, Sole said, "It helped lift me. It helped make me confident, so I was grateful for the home advantage."
Nigeria also bagged gold in the men's 200m as Samuel Ogazi won in 21.22, Scotland's Dean Patterson was second in 21.45 and Rusciano Thomas-Riley of England was third in 21.59.
TT was represented in the women's high jump by Keneisha Shelbourne. She was fifth, clearing the bar at 1.70m.
Australian Toby Stolb
