Quincy Wilson won a bronze medal in the Men's Discus Throw with a 56.82m hurl on his sixth and final attempt on the opening day of the NACAC Senior Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica yesterday. Wilson had managed 52.62m, a foul, 52.62m, another foul and 56.31m in his previous efforts.
The event was won by American Russ Winger (60.68m) with his countryman Andrew Evans taking the silver with 59.32m. Wilson's teammate Emmanuel Stewart was eighth with a best effort of 50.39m. Ayanna Alexander managed fifth in the Women's Triple Jump with 13.68m on her fifth try.
Her lesser efforts included 13.43m, 13.57m, 13.66m and two fouls. Topping the field was Jamaican Shanieka Thomas with 14.23m while Dominican Republic's Ana Jose Tima (14.21m) and American Lynnika Pitts (14.02m) won silver and bronze respectively.
Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon, Pan American silver medallist Mikel Thomas and former national sprint champion Michelle-Lee Ahye all had the fastest qualifying times during the heat stages of their respective events. Gordon won his Men's 400m heat in 44.64, beating the Dominican Republic's Gustavo Cuesta (45.09) and Cuban Yoandys A Lescay (45.84).
Fellow T&T athlete Tacumar Sterling was eliminated after finishing sixth in his heat in a time of 47.08. The slowest qualifying time was 45.66. Thomas led his Men's 110m Hurdles preliminary in 13.43, finishing ahead of Jamaican Tyler Mason (13.46) and Bajan Greggmar Swift (13.52). In the other heat, his countryman Reubin Waters was sixth in a time of 13.90.
Ahye clocked 10.98 to win her Women's 100m opener, edging Charionda Williams of the USA (11.06) and US Virgin Islands' Laverne Jones Ferrette (11.31). She was the only runner to crack the 11-second barrier. T&T's Reyare Thomas also booked a spot in the next round with a second place finish in her heat in 11.25.
She was beaten to the line by American Barbara Pierre (11.08) while her time was the sixth best overall. Deborah John placed second in her Women's 100m Hurdles heat in 13.38 behind Bajan Kierre Beckles (13.01). She will enter the final this morning against a field led by American star Lolo Jones (12.82).
Emmanuel Callendar was eliminated in the semifinal round of the Men's 100m after placing fourth in his race. Callendar's 10.25 was the 10th fastest of the field and he would have needed better than 10.12 to crack the top eight. In his semifinal, he was outrun by Bajan Ramon Gittens (10.01), Jamaican Sheldon Mitchell (10.09) and American Remontay McClain (10.12) Cayman Island's Kemar Hyman had the fastest time of the round with 9.85.
Callendar qualified for the semis after placing fourth in his heat behind Hyman, McClain and St Kitts and Nevis's Jason Rogers. The final is to be run today. Romona Modeste and Jessica James missed out on qualification in the Women's 400m after placing fifth and sixth in their heats respectively.
?Modeste stopped the clock at 54.27, which was the 15th quickest of 19 entrants, while James timed 54.69 to place 16th overall. Action continued last night with T&T athletes entering several events. Kyle Greaux and Dan-neil Telesford (Men's 200m heats), Jamaal James and Nicholas Landeau (Men's 800m heats), Semoy Hackett and Kamaria Durant (Women's 200m heats), Elton Walcott and Steve Waithe (Men's Triple Jump), Josanne Lucas and Sparkle McKnight (Women's 400m Hurdles heats), Alena Brooks (Women's 800m heats) and Jaleesa Williams (Women's Discuss Throw) were all set to compete. The meet will conclude tomorrow.