By Clayton Clarke, TrackAlerts.com writer
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago – World Relay 4x400m bronze medallist Machel Cedenio (Simplex) will lead Trinidad & Tobago’s 20-member (14 men, 6 women) contingent to the 15th IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, USA from July 22-27.
In a release from the T&T athletic governing body, the NAAA, Cedenio has been selected to compete in the men’s 400m event and will be looking to improve on his fifth place finish at the 2012 edition of the meet in Barcelona, Spain. The Point Fortin resident is among the favorites for the gold medal after he sped to a world leading and national junior record time of 45.23 in winning the men’s one lap title at the Cayman Invitational on May 7.
Cedenio, the 2012/2013 Carifta boys under 20 champion, is among four Carifta champions in the team. Shakeil Waithe (Rebirth) will be seeking to return the men’s javelin title to T&T after Keshorn Walcott’s victory two years ago. Walcott went to take the Olympic title. Waithe won the Carifta boys under 20 title in Martinique in April and has the 8th best throw of the year of 72.15m.
World Youth 200m finalist and the 2012 Carifta boys under 17 champion Jonathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats) will attempt the sprint double. Farinha is ranked 8th in the men’s 100m (10.25-pb) and 12th in the 11th (20.68-pb) following his victories at the National Juniors Champs. The Queen’s Royal College student is joined by John Mark Constantine (Concorde)-10.35. Both are members the men’s 4x100m pool which includes Micah Ballyantine (Alpha)-10.43, Holland Cabarea (Abilene Wildcats)-10.54 and 16 year old Akanni Hislop (Zenith)-10.68.
Nicholas Landeau (Airbon Sonics), 2011 Carifta boys under 17 1500m/3000m gold medallist, has been selected to run the men’s 800m. The UK-based competitor dipped below the 1:50 mark with a personal best clocking of 1:49.51 in Belgium in May.
Leading the charge among the women is this year’s Carifta girls under 20 200m winner Kayelle Clarke (Petrotrin Pt.-a-Pierre). Clarke was surprised for the national junior 200m title by Zakiya Denoon (Zenith) who sped go a wind-assisted 23.23 (+2.5), edging Clarke by 0.06 seconds. Denoon’s victory completed a sprint double after she took the 100m in a fastest 11.41ahead of Aaliyah Telesford (Pt. Fortin New Jets) 11.52 and Clarke (11.59). Telesford had clocked 11.49 at the Carifta Trials in March. The trio will team up to form a strong 4x100m line up which including Mauricia Prieto (Pt. Fortin New Jets) 11.76 and Trishelle Leacok (Zenith) 11.96.
Two time Carifta boys under 17 long jump champion Andwuelle Wright (Rebirth) could be included as his leapt to 7.60 (+2.4) to take the national junior 18 title to better the World Junior standard of but his performance was wind assisted. He will be seeking to get the World Junior of 7.55m at the President Classic on June 12 and the National Senior Champs on June 21-22.
Full team
Women
100m: Zakiya Denoon (Zenith)-pb 11.41, Aaliyah Telesford Pt. Fortin New Jets)-11.49 (NAAA-World Junior standard-11.70)
200m: Denoon-23.85???, Kayelle Clarke (Petrotrin Pt.-a-Pierre) 23.63 (23.80),
100m hurdles: Akilia Mc Shine (Cougars) -13.91 (14.20)
4x100m: Denoon, Telesford, Clarke, Maurcia Preito (Pt. Fortin New Jets)-11.96, Trishelle Leacock (Zenith)-11.96
Men
100m:Jonathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats)-10.25John Mark Constantine (Concorde)-10.35, (10.55)
200m: Farinha-20.68 (21.20)
400m: Machel Cedenio (Simplex) 45.23, Theon Lewis (Petrotrin Pt.-a-Pierre) 47.09 (47.50)
800m:Nicholas Landeau (Airbon Sonics) 1:49.51 (1:50.50)
110m hurdles: Ruebin Walters (Memphis Pioneers) 13.57, Aaron Lewis (Zenith) 13.80 (14.20)
Javelin:Shakeil Waithe (Rebirth) 72.15 (68.50)
4x100m: Farinha, Constantine, Lewis, Micah Ballyantine (Alpha)-10.43, Holland Cabarea (Abilene Wildcats)-10.54, Akanni Hislop (Zenith)-10.68
4x400m-Cedenio, Lewis, Asa Guevera (Abilene Wildcats)-47.12, Ohdel James (Abilene Wildcats)-47.56, Nathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats) 48.02, Walters
Officials
Manager-Jim Clarke, Head coach-Dexter Voisin, Sprint coach-Charles Joseph, Sprint & hurdles-Althea George-Busby, Throws coach-Keron Brown, Massage Therapist-Shurland Bonas.
