Jereem, Keshorn star at NAAA national championships

FORMER 400-metre World Indoor champion Jereem Richards arguably stole the show on day two of the NGC National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAATT) Junior and Senior Championships when he sprinted to the men's 400-metre title at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on June 29.

On a day which saw the two-island republic battered by thunderstorms and gusty winds, fans stuck it out despite the inclement weather to see their favourite TT athletes on display.

There was great anticipation surrounding the men's 400m final, with the starters facing the gun around 7.30 pm. And with star athlete Jereem "The Dream" in the lineup, the spectators were eager to get their money's worth. There was approximately a 12-minute delay to the race as the starters were asked to step away from their blocks as the stadium announcers pleaded for silence from the crowd. The wait was anxious, and several athletes jogged along the track to stay warm.

Richards wasn't hampered by the delay, though, and he separated himself from the field to run a blistering time of 44.72 seconds — once again dipping the Olympic qualifying standard of 45 seconds. Richards' time was a also new season's best as it bettered his 44.82 seconds clocking from the NYC Grand Prix on June 9.

Representing Abilene Wildcats, Richards finished more than a second ahead of his competitors, with Siparia Athletics' Jaden Marchan finishing second in 46.30 seconds. Abilene's Shakeem McKay, placed third in 46.62 seconds.

In May, McKay and Richards were members of the TT quartet which secured Olympic qualification in the men's 4x400m event at the World Athletics Relay championship in Bahamas. In the 400m final, Richards left McKay and the accompanying athletes in his wake, though, and he celebrated with a TT flag as he waved to the appreciative crowd in the covered stands.

The 100-metre sprint events are always a fan favourite, and the sprinters got their time in the limelight as they closed proceedings on day two.

In the women's 100m final, there was also a delay to the start of the race due to a faulty starter's gun, with the athletes being shown numerous green cards before the race finally got underway.

When the athletes bolted from the block, there was no stopping Leah Bertrand who ran a brilliant race to take the gold medal in 11.18 seconds — well ahead of the chasing pack. Though her win was impressive, Bertrand's time was outside the Olympic standard of 11.07 seconds.

Sole Frederick finished the race rapidly and she pipped her sister Sanaa Frederick and Akilah Lewis to the line to claim second in 11.43 seconds. Lewis got third spot in 11.50 seconds, with Sanaa finishing fourth in 11.55 seconds.

The men's 100m final was also a treat, and Devin Augustine (10.21 seconds) defended his title with a well-executed run. Jonathan Farinha (10.23 seconds) looked to be favourite for most of the race, but he was pipped on the line by Augustine as he settled for second. Kion Benjamin (10.38 seconds) finished third.

The boys' under-20 100m final was a tight affair, but Cougars' Dylan Woodruffe emerged from a congested field to to take gold in 10.57 seconds. Simplex sprinter Kadeem Chinapoo, who copped Carifta gold in the boys' under-17 200m earlier this year, just edged his brother Hakeem to second spot in 10.66 seconds. Hakeem grabbed third in 10.73 seconds.

In the girls' under-17 and under-20 100m finals, two siblings ascended to the top of the podium as they blazed the track and their counterparts.

In the girls' under-17 100m final, Lisa Arianna Raye (11.42 seconds) pulled away from the field to grab gold, with Akira Malaver (11.90 seconds) taking second place.

In the girls' under-20 100m final, Xenia Nicole Raye seized the gold medal with a time of 11.57 seconds, with Symphony Patrick, a 2024 Carifta silver medallist, copping silver in 11.94 seconds.

In the last field event of the day, 2012 Olympic gold medallist, Keshorn Walcott, won the men's javelin event with a throw of 85.22 metres — clinching a new season's best in the process. Walcott also registered throws of 84.42m and 83.85m in the event as he treated the remaining spectators to a healthy series of throws.