Doldron: Juniors were fantastic

Trinidad and Tobago won two gold medals in Beijing — first from 400 metres sprinter Renny Quow in a record time, and then through long jumper Rhonda Watkins, also setting a new standard.

Watkins, who attends university in the United States won gold with an impressive jump of 6.46 metres. Her achievement marked the third gold medal for the English speaking Caribbean at the meet. The only other gold medal, apart from Quow came from Jamaican women’s 400 metres runner Kaliese Spencer.

Watkins also broke a 20-year lull period in which no athlete from the English speaking Caribbean has won any medal in the long jump event.

Doldron said that no amount of words could express exactly how he feels about the double-gold medal achievement.

“I said when Quow won the 400 metres, an event that has been dominated by the Americans, that it was a fantastic performance,” Doldron said. “I hope that we can sustain our performances and take it into the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing,” Doldron said.

Trinidad and Tobago emerged the ninth best team in the world out of some 200-plus countries at the World Junior Champoinships.

Doldron pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago have never finished higher, nor performed as well.

He said the best finish came when quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon won double-gold back in 1992 when the World Junior Championships were held in Seoul, South Korea.

Doldron said congratulations must be extended to the coaches of the two athletes — Quow whose coach is Gerard Franklyn of the sister isle of Tobago and Keith Clifthorne who was the local coach of Watkins.

Their performances are also expected to send a strong signal to corporate Trinidad and Tobago of the type of talent that exists in our twin-island republic.

Already he said Government, through Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes have done a fair share, but he notes that corporate Trinidad and Tobago must play a crucial role in athletic development.