London 2012 Olympic gold medal winner Keshorn Walcott began his 2013 campaign in fine style at the men's javelin event at the inaugural T&T Elite Twilight Games held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, Friday night.
Going up against a field of local athletes, the First Citizens Sports Foundation and T&T Olympic Committee Sportsman of the Year proved he was in form with a maiden throw that saw the spear land at a distance of 84.39 metres.
Back in London, Walcott threw a distance of 84.58 to beat Norway's two-time Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen.
When Walcott took the field at 7.45 pm, the large audience went into an uproar. Their adulation for the nation's top athlete was demonstrated each time his name was called.
He was accompanied by his challengers Hakim Smith of Toco Track and Field Athletic Club (Tafac), Shakiel Waithe of Tobago Zenith, as well as Andwele Korede and Precious George both under the Warriors banner. Kurt Felix of Grenada was listed to compete but when the athletes took the spotlight he was not in the line-up.
But at the end of the event, the national and World Juniors victor showed sports enthusiasts why he clinched this country's second Olympic gold medal after almost three decades.
In the men's 400-metre event, young sensation Machel Cedenio–the Carifta 2012 champion and First Citizens Sports Foundation Junior Sportsman of the Year–won convincingly in a time of 45.99 seconds.
Running in lane five, Cedenio, it seemed, toyed with Marcus Boyd –of the USA running in lane 6–who was in the lead in the final stretch before he (Cedenio) pressed to the final line to show who was boss.
The circumstances were similar for Michelle-Lee Ahye who represente Rebirth.
Rivalled by a field that included Shataya Hendricks and Muna Lee of the USA, and Owsu-Agwa Fling from Canada, Ahye won convincingly.
Couched between US-athletes Jarrett Eaton and Christopher Thomas, T&T's Mikel Thomas brought sporting fans to their feet with an exhilarating performance in the men 110-metre hurdles which he won in a time of 13.46 seconds.
Friday's meet, which featured 12 events, also saw the return of former World Junior champion Darrell Brown in the men's 100-metre.
As expected multiple Olympic athlete Cleopatra Borel put on a show during competition in the shot-put, while Kyron Blaise delighted patrons with his dynamic leaps in the men's long jump.
It seemed that Friday's Twilight Games had the approval of the gods. A mere 60 minutes into the event, it began to rain. Judging from the ominously dark clouds, it seemed the event would have been rained out.
But as faith would have it, the clouds subsided and the roster of events continued as planned, which included eclectic performances from Kees Dieffenthaller, Blaxx (Dexter Stewart) Olatunji Yearwood and Cassi (Cassiano Sylvester) at the T&T Elite presentation of the Twilight Games.
