Bigger Palo Seco Games 2004

PETROTRIN Palo Seco International Games will be bigger and better next year. This was the promise of  Games chairman George Commissiong at the conclusion of this year’s action after a four-year lapse. Commissiong currently acting as Petrotrin’s corporate communications manager and his committee members did a marvellous job in successfully staging the Games at the Palo Seco Velodrome on Sunday last. He said planning and organising this year’s edition was done in less than one  month, and the 6,000-odd spectators who made the trek to the southland enjoyed an exciting games, one of the better-organised athletics and cycle meet of the year.

Commissiong was very happy with the response to the Games and pledged, “next year will be bigger and better”. He said: “We started very late in trying to re-organise the Games. But I am very happy and pleased that the Caribbean athletes and cyclists along with American Joshua Weir were able to compete. Trinidad and Tobago athletes Simon Pierre, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Jules LaRode and US-based cyclist Roger Farrell evoked much pride when they won their events. But it was Guyana sprinter Andre Blackman who romped to a thrilling 100 metres win and American cyclist Joshua Weir who won the feature match sprint and Elimination races that showed superior class among their rivals.

Blackman clocked 10.68 seconds as he outsprinted Zenith’s Melvin Nero (10.86) and PAP’s Carlton Elwin (11.34) to take the blue riband event. He had to settle for the silver behind a fast-finishing Simon Pierre who clocked 21.56 in winning the 200 metres, however. Blackman’s time was   21.82 secs. Pierre made it a personal double by winning the men open 400 metres in 48.66 secs ahead of his Memphis Pioneers club mate Bedawi Gomez (48.97) and Concorde’s Edwin Hill (49.10).

Zenith’s Baptiste completed the women sprint double by taking the 100 metres in 11.71 seconds ahead of Carifta Games bronze medallist Wanda Hutson (11.94) and the 200 metres in 24.26 secs from Dianne Cooks (25.21). Guyana’s Tai Payne (1 min: 56.04 secs) and PAP’s Paul Beckett (1:58.24) created a mild upset when they held off Palo Seco’s Jules LaRode (1:59.72) in the 800 metres open an invitational race. Earlier, in a tight finish, La Rode edged out TT Carifta Games Under-20 gold medallist Carlan Arthur in the 1500 metres, in a time of  4:08.27 while the promising runner-up  returned 4:08.29.