The local trio of Ashleigh Thomas, Jadian Neaves, and Justin Boynes all had tough outings in their respective Women’s and Men’s Individual Time Trial rides on the opening day of competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, San Fernando on Saturday.
In the Women’s Individual Time Trial event contested over 10 kilometres, Thomas rode to a 15th place finish of 17 minutes, 54.80 seconds, only ahead of Lesotho’s Pontso Maktile who clocked 19 minutes, 00.10 seconds.
Australian duo, Lauren Emily Bates (14:09.31), and Keira Will (14:31.89) took home the gold and silver medals while Isle of Man, Ruby Oakes, got bronze in 14:43.91 minutes to be the first athletes to secure medals at the games.
In the 15km Men’s Individual Time Trial contest, Neaves raced home in 21 minutes, 15.76 seconds for the 16th position of 30 competitors, while Boynes was 20th with a time of 21:34.57 minutes.
South African Miles Bailey Liebenberg raced to gold in 19.17.62 minutes, with Scotland’s Elliot Rowe taking the silver medal in 19:21.01, and Australia’s Will Heath, the bronze in 19:35.24.
Today, over at the Black Rock Facility, Tobago, T&T beach volleyball teams, Meeka Johnson, and L’fe Roberts, Jahreef Miguel, and Jerome Morrison face off against Kenya’s Sharon Arusei, and Abigael Chesebe, and Cyprus’ Alexis Savvidis, and Anninos Chrysosotomou from 3.30 pm, and 5.10 pm respectively.
Over at the Shaw Park Sports Complex, in Scarborough, T&T men and women teams will also get their Rugby Sevens campaign going.
In the men’s tournament, T&T faces Fiji at 10.28 am followed by South Africa at 2.28 pm while in the women’s, T&T comes up against Australia at 10.50 am, and they match wits against Fiji at 2.50 pm.
Also in Tobago at the Buccoo Beach Facility, Jenae Allum Price, Liam D'Abadie, and James Castagne-Hay will compete in the women's and men's Individual Super Sprint Distance triathlon races from 8.30 am, and 10.30 am respectively.
At the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain Couva, the T&T pair of Nikoli Blackman and Zarek Wilson will face the starter for both the men’s 50m butterfly at 10.12 am, and then the 200m freestyle heats at 10.40 am.
The games began on Friday with much fanfare at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo and will feature athletes from 70 countries who will compete in seven sports- namely athletics, cycling, triathlon, beach volleyball, rugby, netball, and swimming.
Cycling, swimming Athletics and Para-athletics will take place in Trinidad while Beach Volleyball, rugby (sevens, triathlon and netball (Fast 5) will take place in the sister isle of Tobago and will run until August 11.
Among the participating countries are Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Fiji, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Grenada, India, Jamaica, Jersey, Lesotho, Mauritius, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Zambia, England, Cayman Islands, Gambia, Canada, Bermuda, New Zealand, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, Vanuatu, Barbados, Rwanda, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Singapore, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Kenya, and Malawi.
T&T rugby seven teams
Men
Xavier Williams, Elijah Williams, Thomas Weiczorek, Jaheim Walton, Jerrell Vincent, Luke Stowe, Shane St Louis, Aaron Stanley, Edmund George, Judah Francis, Christian Felix, Judah Duncan, Achilles Charles, Leon Pantor (manager), Larry Mendez (coach), Jonathan O'Conor-(assistant coach)
Women
Moesha Smith, Zoe Mc Knight, Rebecca Dickson, Shenika Paul, Anaya Ammon, Alisha Salandy, Quaneisha Oliver, Nathalia Cadiz, Mikayla Williams, Micaela Plaza, Shania Hamilton, Alyssa Fields, Zaria Joseph, Tenisha Samuel-Duke (manager), Kyle Strachan (coach), Blossom Stewart (assistant coach).
Triathlon
Jenae Allum Price, Liam D'Abadie, James Castagne-Hay, Riana Harrinauth (manager/coach).
