Paul credits coaches after gold medal feat

The 17-year-old sprinter concluded his and this nation’s historic campaign as hosts in fine style as he rode to TT ’s only gold medal of this year’s Championships.

In the speed-filled final, Paul lined up alongside South American rival, Duban Urrego Correa (Colombia), in a three-race head-tohead battle.

Race one saw Paul start behind the Colombian but soon grabbed a brisk advantage on the final lap to go one-up by a small margin in front of a chanting home crowd. In race two, Paul started at the front this time around, but was caught slightly off-guard as Correa opted for an early break. The Naparima College graduate however, kept pace and remained on the wheels of his rival anticipating a swift surge on the final lap. The Colombian kept toying with Paul and upon approaching the final 250m distance, Correa began pumping his legs furiously. But, the TT cyclist would have none of it, and got within Correa’s slipstream to burst past his visiting rival and produce a roaring golden finish in front of the jumping home crowd.

Paul proudly rode up to TT fan zone pumping his fist and patriotically draped himself in the national flag on what would be considered a welcomed gift to the independent nation of 54 years. Speaking to the junior after his victorious ride, Paul expressed elation and credited both national sprint and endurance coaches, Anthony Sellier and Ashton Williams, for playing instrumental roles in his title-winning performance. “I’m just very excited with the result I got and I’m almost lost for words,” he stated. “In the match sprint, there are many different ways to win it, so I had to prepare for all tactics that could have been handed to me on the track at that time by the Colombian. I was ready for it. He (Correa) didn’t go (sprint) as hard as I expected and I kept within my eyesight. To represent the red, white and black and win at home is the best feeling.” The Gasparillo-based athlete also boasted a large contingent of supporters at the Velodrome who kept in his corner all the way to the finish line. This being his last year as a junior, Paul now awaits the many coming challenges as a senior cyclist.

“You just have to keep working hard and put the best foot forward.

I want to become a professional cyclist, working forward to bigger and better things in sprinting. This win goes for my coach, my family, the national team and my supporters.

I’m heading up into the senior category and I know it’s going to be a great challenge but I’m willing to accept it,” he added.

Altogether, Team TT captured one gold and two silver medals at the Championships. On the opening day, TT grabbed silver in the Team Sprint (Paul, Chaquille Henry, Jabari Whiteman) and Paul notched up a credible runner-up showing in the Men’s Keirin on night-three (Monday).

Sponsoring this historic event was The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), Blink|Bmobile, Tourism Development Company (TDC), Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Petrotrin, Cole and Associates, Perfection Services Limited, Prestige Holdings Limited – Subway, Caribbean Bottlers Limites – Dasani and Powerade, Guardian General Insurance and Carib Brewery Limited.