FORMER 400-metre World Indoor champion Jereem Richards arguably stole the show on day two of the NGC National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAATT) Junior and Senior Championships when he sprinted to the men's 400-metre title at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on June 29.
On a day which saw the two-island republic battered by thunderstorms and gusty winds, fans stuck it put despite the inclement weather to see their favourite TT athletes on display.
There was great anticipation surrounding the men's 400m final, with the starters facing the gun around 7.30 pm. And with star athlete Jereem "The Dream" in the lineup, the spectators were eager to get their money's worth. There was approximately a 12-minute delay to the race as the starters were asked to step away from their blocks as the stadium announcers pleaded for silence from the crowd. The wait was anxious, and several athletes jogged along the track to stay warm.
Richards wasn't hampered by the delay, though, and he separated himself from the field to run a blistering time of 44.72 seconds — once again dipping the Olympic qualifying standard of 45 seconds. Richards' time was a also new season's best as it bettered his 44.82 seconds clocking from the NYC Grand Prix on June 9.
Representing Abilene Wildcats, Richards finished more than a second ahead of his competitors, with Siparia Athletics' Jaden Marchan finishing second in 46.30 seconds. Abilene's Shakeem McKay, placed third in 46.62 seconds.
In May, McKay and Richards were members of the TT quartet which secured Olympic qualification in the men's 4x400m event at the World Athletics Relay championship in Bahamas. In the 400m final, Richards left McKay and the accompanying athletes in his wake, though, and he celebrated with a TT flag as he waved to the appreciative crowd in the covered stands.
The 100-metre sprint events are always a fan favourite, and the sprinters got their time in the limelight as they closed proceedings on day two.
In the women's 100m final, there was also a delay to the start of the race due to a faulty starter's gun, with the athletes being shown numerous green cards before the race finally got underway.
[caption id="attachment_1093153" align="alignnone" width="1024"] An athlete competes in the Girls' Under-17 long jump, on June 29, at the NGC NAAATT Junior and Senior Championships held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
When the athletes bolted from the block, there was no stopping Leah Bertrand who ran a brilliant race to take the gold medal in 11.18 seconds — well ahead of the chasing pack. Though her was impressive, Bertrand's time was outside the Olympic standard of 11.07 seconds.
Sole Frederick finished the race rapidly and she pipped her sister Sanaa Frederick and Akilah Lewis to the line to claim second in 11.43 seconds. Lewis got third spot in 11.50 seconds, with Sanaa finishing fourth in 11.55 seconds.
The men's 100m final was also a treat, and Devin Augustine (10.21 seconds) defended his title with
