TT Olympian Alvin Daniel has commended Jereem Richards for his performance in the men's 200m final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, but believes he can improve considerably.

Richards clocked 20.08 seconds to place sixth on Thursday night. Daniel believes Richards will continue to battle for a podium finish in upcoming meets.

Americans Noah Lyles (19.31), Kenneth Bednarek (19.77) and Erriyon Knighton (19.80) swept the event with the top three spots.

Daniel is a former 400m and 200m runner who represented TT at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

He said, 'Congratulations to Jereem…I don't think he should feel bad with his place because when you look at the standard and the times, I think he has done excellent. He is a champion to me.

'People have to know what it takes to reach in a final at a World Championships or an Olympics…It is sixth best in the world right now and that is a big achievement. We are a small country.'

Daniel said Richards will be competing for a medal in the near future.

'Jereem will be on top of the world pretty soon. He is talented and he is a fella that works hard. He will reach very far, but that is how it goes - you win today and lose one tomorrow.'

On what advice he would give Richards, Daniel said, 'Jereem supposed to be running 19 (seconds) steady, but he is not running his turn too much. At this level you cannot try to run up the straight all the time. Those (top) guys run on the turn, you have to work on the turn. Once he runs the turn a little harder…he is going to be running plenty 19-point (times).'

Daniel called for more support for the athletes locally.

Richards will now look forward to the 2022 Commonwealth Games which starts on Thursday in Birmingham, England.

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