Trinidad and Tobago men’s hockey team to add to medal count at CAC Games

The TT men’s hockey team is guaranteed to add either gold or silver to the nation’s 2023 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games medal tally when they battle Mexico in the final at Parque del Este in El Salvador on Thursday, from 2.45pm (TT time).

TT are also favourites to challenge the men’s 400m and javelin events, with speedster Jereem Richards and two-time Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott respectively, both chasing precious metal on Thursday, at the Estadio Nacional Jorge El Mágico González Athletics Stadium.

The hockey team advanced to the trophy match after easing past Barbados 8-2 in Wednesday’s semi-final.

In-form Teague Marcano scored three goals, Tariq Marcano and Jordan Vieira two each and Joel Daniel, one.

In the other semi-final, Mexico defeated Cuba 5-3 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Richards will vie for a 400m podium place when he lines up in lane five, from 9.20pm. He advanced to the final after topping the heat two semi-final on Tuesday.

Richards clocked 45.96s while countryman Adolphus James was fourth in 47.51s. He did not move on.

Also, Walcott touched down in El Salvador on Wednesday and begins his lone event from 9.15pm.

He will be aiming to improve on his seventh-place showing at last week’s Diamond League in Switzerland, where he placed seventh with an 81.85m distance.

After press time on Wednesday, TT’s Carlon Hosten was scheduled to sprint for gold in the men’s 200m final.

He advanced to the medal race after placing third (20.81s) in semi final heat two; with a seventh fastest overall qualifying time.

Running out of lane two in heat one, TT’s Devin Augustine placed sixth in 21.19s and did not advance.

After press time, TT’s Sole and Sanaa Frederick contested women’s semi final heats.

In the open water 5k swim earlier on, Nikoli Blackman placed 14th and completed the distance in one hour, four minutes and 31 seconds.

Mexican Paulo Strehlke (57:19), Venezuelan Diego Vera (57:22.6) and another Mexican Daniel Delgadillo (57:29.5) were the top three in that order.

Additionally, on Wednesday, the women’s beach volleyball team suffered their second straight group B loss. Colombia triumphed 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-6). They continue against Cuba at 12.30pm on Thursday.

TT’s netball team notched their second group A win in as many matches on Wednesday morning as they edged Barbados 50-47. Afeisha Noel led all scorers by sinking 40 points from 43 attempts. Joelis Cooper (six) and Tianna Dillon (four) also chipped in.

After press time on Wednesday, they were preparing to face St Vincent and the Grenadines. Their group matches continue on Thursday against Cayman Islands (7pm) and on Friday, against Jamaica (9.30pm).

In cycling, neither Akil Campbell nor Alexi Ramirez featured in Wednesday’s individual time trial but the pair returns on Friday, for the women (11am) and men (12:30pm) road races.

Additionally, after press time on Wednesday, TT’s men’s water polo team were locked in battle against Venezuela for a spot in Thursday’s semi-final. Despite losing their opening match 30-6 against Mexico, TT rebounded to beat Centro Caribe Sports 16-14 and Bahamas 11-7.

To badminton at the Complejo Deportivo El Polvorín, TT’s Will Lee was eliminated in the men’s singles quarter-finals.

He lost 21-7, 21-10 to Jamaican Samuel Ricketts.

On Tuesday night, Lee and compatriot Chequeda De Boulet also lost their mixed doubles opener against Mexico 2-0. The Mexicans won 21-5, 21-11.

Also, TT were eliminated in their final beach soccer contest on Tuesday evening.

They lost 4-2 to Venezuela with Omri Baird and Kevon Williams scoring for the red, white and black.