Busy day for Trinidad and Tobago at Jnr Pan Am today

TT will compete in multiple sports at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, on Friday.

On Thursday, TT canoe sprinter Josiah Clarke did not start his event.

Clarke, competing in the K1 1,000-metre men’s canoe sprint, was scheduled to participate against seven other athletes in series one at Lake Calima.

It is uncertain why Clarke did not start the race.

Valentin Rossi of Argentina won the race in three minutes, 33.91 seconds (3:33.91), Martin Gorriti Monterroso of Uruguay finished second in 3:38.60 and Brazilian Leonardo Rocha Ferreira Mattos ended third in 3:39.20.

The opening ceremony was held from 8 pm (TT time), on Thursday. Swimmer Ornella Walker and cyclist Zion Pulido were TT’s two flag bearers.

At the games TT will be represented in eight sports – canoe sprint, cycling, track and field, swimming, 3x3 basketball, triathlon, boxing and weightlifting.

On Friday, TT will have a number of athletes competing.

Juan Rodriguez will enter the ring in the men’s 52kg boxing category.

The men’s cycling sprint team, including Pulido, will face the starter at the Alcides Nieto Patino Velodrome. TT will compete against teams from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.

At the Hernando Botero O’byrne Swimming Pools, Gabriela Ann Donahue will compete in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Kael Yorke will also represent TT in the men’s 200m butterfly and the pair of Nikoli Blackman and Graham Chatoor will line up in the men’s 400m freestyle.

The action will not stop there as triathlete Jean Marc Granderson will battle in the men’s triathlon.