Eight athletes shatter records on Day 2 of athletics

AS the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games continued on Tuesday, a total of eight athletes shattered records in their respective disciplines at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The games began on Friday and will end on August 11. Tuesday was day two of athletics and para-athletics

In the men’s 400m hurdles semifinals, TT’s Cheyne Michael earned an automatic qualification after placing second in heat one with a time of 53.05s.

He told Newsday the race was "smooth" and he didn't expect any less than qualifying.

The winner of this heat was Sri Lanka’s Ayomal Akalanka Kuda Liyanage who ran 51.99s.

It was in the men’s long jump final that Cayman Islands’ Andrew Stone erased the eight-year-old games record with a massive jump of 7.70m.

The previous record – 7.67m – was set by Ghana’s Richard Seklorwu in 2015.

Stone broke the record on his final attempt, after nearing it on his third with 7.63m.

The 17-year-old told Newsday he felt "really great" and basked in the energy of the crowd.

"In Trinidad, it's really amazing. It's not like they're cheering only for their country, they're cheering for everybody."

On being the record-holder, he said, "It's really good. (I'm) just trusting my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ."

TT’s Andrew Steele and Immani Matthew placed fourth and fifth, respectively in this event.

Both athletes said it felt amazing to compete in their home country and that the support from the crowd was wonderful.

Steele said, "I was very proud to compete for TT. I just wanted to do them right and I'm thankful I had the opportunity to run here today."

Matthew, who recently copped gold at the Carifta Games, was not too pleased with his performance, as he "let his emotions take over" a bit too much. But despite this, he said, "It was a real special feeling (competing at home) because not many athletes get to run in front of everybody rooting for them."

Team Kenya dominated in the women’s and men’s 1,500m races with four of its athletes breaking the previous games records, earning two gold and two silver medals.

In the women’s race, Nancy Cherop copped gold in 4:12:38, while her teammate Janet Jepkoech Chepkemoi secured silver in 4:14:24.

England’s Lyla Belshaw captured bronze in 4:16:37, also breaking the record.

The previous record of 4:16:61 was held by Scotland’s Erin Wallace, set in 2017.

In the men’s race, three athletes also shattered the record of 3:39:80 set by Kenyan Kumari Taki in 2015.

Ensuring the record remained in team Kenya’s territory, Jospat Sang Kipkirui copped gold in 3:37:66, and Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi got silver in 3:38:12.

Joining the record-breaking fun with his fellow African competitors, Uganda’s Jacob Sande earned bronze in 3:39:69.

Team manager, coach and Olympic silver-medallist Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei told Newsday the athletes have been training very hard and she is proud of them.

"I am so happy. These are youngsters, they are the future of our athletics."

In the men’s shot put final, it was South Africa’s Hencu Johann Lamberts who earned gold, breaking another record, with a throw of 20.17m.

It was previously held by Kevin Nedrick of Jamaica and was set in 2015. He threw 20.12m.

Lamberts said he was stunned by his own performance as he was not expecting to set any records.

"I hope to make it to the Olympics one day and just keep on going," he said.

In the women’s discus throw final, South Africa’s Alicia Eli Khunou won with a throw of 49.53m which she secured on her final attempt.

Australia’s Chelsy Wayne copped silver with 49.39m and earning bronze was Cyprus’ Rafaella Aristotelous with 42.74m.

TT’s Ruth Irvine did not manage to land a throw inside the marked area.

In the men's discus throw F42-44 / F61-64 (para-athletics), South Africa's Daniel Tumiso Molobela got gold with a throw of 26.34m, silver went to Kenya's Titus Maundu Mwonga with 20m and bronze, Grenada's Tyler Smith with 18.85m.

Tianna Springer of Guyana and Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi won their respective 400m finals with times of 53.55s and 46.99s respectively.

Ogazi gave a shoutout to TT’s Jereem Richards who he hailed as his “biggest mentor” and thanked him for supporting him.

"I hope to see you soon," he added.