NORTH EAST Stars reclaimed third spot from Defence Force in the T&T Pro League after a come-from-behind 4-1 win over the hapless Tobago United at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, on Sunday night.

Nicholas Jack sent the home supporters into a frenzy with a goal after 40 minutes of play, but their joy was shortlived as the Sangre Grande-based team went into high gear in the second half. Guyanese striker Randolph Jerome was the hero for the visitors, registering a hat-trick in the 53rd, 77th and 86th minutes, while Anton Wolffe added the finishing touch with an item in stoppage time. The Stars have 26 points from 15 matches, one more than Defence Force who have a match in hand. CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh continue to set the pace in the 10-team table with 39 points, eight ahead of W Connection.

Current Standings –
Senior
	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
San Juan Jabloteh	15	12	3	0	45	11	39
W Connection	14	9	4	1	34	12	31
North East Stars	15	8	2	5	25	18	26
Defence Force	14	8	1	5	29	25	25
Starworld Strikers	14	7	2	5	27	19	23
SWIF	15	4	5	6	23	33	17
Joe Public	12	2	8	2	14	16	14
Arima Fire	15	2	4	9	11	29	10
Caledonia AIA	14	2	3	9	11	28	9
Tobago United	14	0	2	#	5	34	2

HAVANA: Jamaica gave up a late goal and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Cuba in their opening round first-leg Olympic qualifying football tie on Sunday afternoon.

A 90th-minute strike by Henry Munox saved the Cubans from defeat after Desmond Breakenridge had given the visitors a vital lead with 16 minutes remaining. The return match will be played in Jamaica on October 12. The Jamaicans celebrated what could have been a winning goal when Breakenridge collected a through pass from midfield to slot past the advancing Cuban goalkeeper. But eight minutes later they were reduced to 10 players following the ejection of Garfield Reid and the home side snatched the equaliser in the last minute when goalkeeper, Allien Whittaker, fumbled a shot from a corner and Munox capitalised by heading home.

PARENTS of Darrel Brown, World Championship silver-medallist in the 100 metres sprint, are very pleased with his world class performances and the manner in which he represented Trinidad and Tobago in Paris, France.

Winston Brown (father and manager) and Marlyn Jack Brown returned home from Paris recently where they supported and witnessed his outstanding performances at the Stade de France.  The 18-year-old world junior champion surprised everyone and stunned the world athletics fraternity with his historic performances. Brown established a new junior (Under-19) world record in the quarter-finals when he returned 10.01 secs, which erased the previous six-year-old world record of 10.06 held by England’s European champion Dwain Chambers. And to show that he has the potential to do great things, the Trinidadian “Laser Bullet” stormed through his semi-final showdown with reigning Olympics champion Maurice Greene, Olympic bronze-medallist Darren Campbell and compatriot and quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon. Campbell was third in 10.12 and made it to the final while Boldon, a former world 200 metres champion placed sixth (10.22) and Greene eighth (10.37). They were both eliminated and were spectators of the final.

Despite a slow start and a right hamstring muscle pull midway during the race, Brown held on and was marginally short of snatching the coveted gold medal. It took the photofinish camera to separate him from the winner, Kim Collins. Brown collected the silver with a 10.08 secs timing. Collins, who raced in lane one, was timed at 10.07. It was the best showing by a Trinidadian and eclipsed Boldon’s bronze medal achievement. He also became the youngest sprinter to get an individual medal in the premier event. Brown’s parents, who have made tremendous sacrifices, both financial and otherwise, over the years feel blessed that their young son has achieved so much. They have carefully nurtured Darrel on the road to the top and his father Winston said he feels  happy for his son. “He never likes to lose and he will not quit. He is so focused and determined and he went through a lot to get to the final,” said Brown senior.

“The plan was to go for the world youth record and make the final. He achieved both his goals. And to race among the big guns, some of the greatest sprinters of all time and to come through with the silver is beyond our expectations. But God has been good to us and to Darrel. “We are very pleased and happy. No one probably would understand the pressure Darrel went through to get to the final. When people look at the top runners he faced in the semi-finals, then they would get an idea of how hard it was to qualify. “ Everyone in that race has more experience than Darrel. Can anyone imagine what it means to a young athlete racing against Maurice Greene, the defending champion, and Dwain Chambers, both of whom had ran faster times than everyone else earlier in the year. Then there was Ato (Boldon) who is very experienced and ran a very good time to win his quarter-final race. “The English guy Darren Campbell and Nigerian Deji Aliu were also running very fast times. These were the men he raced against and made it through to the final. It was real pressure for Darrel but he loves the challenge. He wanted to do well for Trinidad and Tobago,” said Winston Brown.

Commenting on Darrel’s race in the 100 metres final and getting the silver medal, his father stressed that being in that final with Tim Montgomery, the world record holder, and all the other top runners would scare any young athlete. “But Darrel knew the responsibility was on him to do well for Trinidad and Tobago, especially so that Ato was out of it. He did not get a quick start and had to put everything he had to catch the front-runners. It was a special moment to see him close the gap on them, but if he didn’t get that pull in the hamstring, we can imagine that the result would have been different,” said Brown. “He did well to finish the race and really showed a lot of courage and determination to get a medal among the best. We are pleased with the silver medal he won. It’s beyond our expectations and we thank God for it. We just wanted him to break the junior record and get to the final. This was his first major senior championships and everybody in France was thrilled with his performance,” he said. “He made a very good impression and we hope everybody is happy with what he did for the country. Darrel is still a young boy. His body is not that strong for all the rigours of going through so many rounds against the best. “But he will strengthen up and his muscles are still developing. He will be well again and return to college in the United States to continue his studies,” added his father who travels with him to all his competitions.

KINGSTON: Little-known medium pacer Evon McInnis produced a strong allround performance to help Chris Gayle’s XI beat the Robert Samuels XI by 16 runs in Jamaica’s latest Red Stripe Bowl trial match on Sunday.

McInnis scored 33 to help push Gayle’s XI to 188 for eight and grabbed three wickets when Samuels’ XI struggled to 172 all out in 49.5 overs at Jamalco Sports Club. Gayle, who was Samuels’ opposing captain with regular skipper Wavell Hinds resting, continued his steady scoring when he posted 51, with three fours and two sixes, to complement his innings of 71 and 78 in the previous two matches. McInnis and Ricardo Powell (35) also scored well against the Samuels XI’s bowling, headed by ex-West Indies youth pacer Andrew Richardson (2-14). In Saturday’s second trial, McInnis had taken six for 34 off 10 overs for the Samuels XI in their win. Gayle completed a fine allround match, capturing three for 17 with his off-spin, and with McInnis, stifled the Samuels XI run chase. Samuels top-scored for his team with 40, while Darren Powell (28) and Tamar Lambert (24) were the next best contributors in the failed run chase.

CRAB CONNECTION crawled their way into the quarter-finals of the  new Lucky Bakery-sponsored Eastern Football League FA Trophy series with a 2-0 shut out arch-rivals Wasa Clean and White at WASA’S St Joseph ground.

Don Williams was the hero of Sunday’s replay of the original cup-tie on Tuesday last which ended 1-1. The striker rocked WASA with a powerful shot from 35 metres which rocketed into the net in the 40th minute.  And Williams smashed home a penalty in the 65th minute to send The Crabs into today’s quarter-finals against Carib FC at St Augustine Senior Comprehensive ground from 4.15 pm. Also on today, Hearty Foods Bulls take on BM Spurs at the Arima Municipal Stadium Ground; Joe Public meet Samba Xtra Malt East San Juan United at Squadron ground, Arouca; and TSTT face the resurgent Athletico Sports Institute at Valsayn Ground. All matches kick off at 4.15 pm.

MARRAKECH: Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers completed a comfortable victory in their first taste of action yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s friendly international against the host nation Morocco.

A pair of first-half goals by Birmingham City striker Stern John gave TT a 2-0 win over local club side Nejm Marrakech at the Stade Harte. The match served as a timely training affair in which TT coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier used the opportunity to give each player a run with the exception of Scottish-based defender Brent Sancho. The player had received orders from Dr Terrence Babwah to rest a sore hip. TT played the match with some intensity but were also cautious and avoided the risk of injuries before the main event. One of the high points of the evening was the positive showing of new Watford striker Jason Norville who played a part in the opening goal when he was brought down inside the penalty box to allow John to convert the penalty. The former Nottingham Forest striker started up front alongside Norville and Hector Sam in yesterday’s training match and notched a double before going off at half-time. His second item came in the 29th minute following a neat buildup involving Aurtis Whitley and Norville after which his header went in underneath the bar.

CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh goalkeeper Kelvin Jack was rarely tested but was still called upon to make a couple decent saves even as his defence of sweeper Reynold Carrington, Dennis Lawrence and Marvin Andrews kept things steady at the back. John was upbeat after the match but sported a serious look as he left the playing field. “So far things are looking good. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again these are the kind of matches we need to be playing. The team spirit is excellent and this is exactly what we need in these times especially with the qualifiers around the corner. “If we can get that same kind of togetherness on the field as we have off it, I think it is  going to make us a difficult team to defeat,”  John said yesterday. “Hopefully we can get a good result with a good performance on Wednesday because that is all that counts right now. We as a team need to make the sacrifices and stand up for each other. I think that at this stage, we realise we will have to shoulder much, if not all the burdens if we are to stand any chance of doing well in the World Cup qualifiers,” John said. “I think right now there is not much respect for us as a football nation out there and we have to dig deep to get things back in order. We must perform and earn that respect,” said John, who indicated that he has now accepted the fact that any return of a Russell Latapy or a Dwight Yorke is out of the question and as a result, the time is now one for the current quota of professionals on the team to take up the responsibilities.

Coach Charles-Fevrier meantime was quietly optimistic. “It was just the kind of training exercise we needed before the big match on Wednesday,” Charles-Fevrier said afterwards as the players relaxed at the luxurious Le Meridien Hotel. “I have a pretty good idea now of what our starting team will be like and what our tactical formation will be like on Wednesday. My main objective today was not to win but just an opportunity to play together in what I felt was a good dress rehearsal. I can also see young Jason Norville being a good player for us in the future,” said Charles Fevrier.

Super Grey and Outrageous Victory have been allotted topweights of 56.6 kilos for the two handicaps on the Arima Race Club Day 27 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on Saturday

Super Grey, a fancied runner for the September 24 Royal Oak Derby will tote his burden against a full field of 16 West Indian bred three-year-olds and over in an extended sprint over 1350 metres. Outrageous Victory, which hails from the Steven Jardim barn has been asked to hand weight all round against eight foreign breds over a similar trip, and against a similar age group of imports. In the fray for West Indian bred animals, Super Grey will grant 1.5 kilos to nearest rival Classy Kim and a maximum 8.5 each to bottomweights Fresh Mandate and Full Of Promises. In the extended sprint for foreigners, Pile Of Cash and Fromnowuntil, with 53 kilos in their saddle bags will be Outrageous Victory’s closest rivals at the weights, with Maracas Bay opposing the trio with the pennystamp weight of 49.5 kilos.

Following are the framed races, entries and weights for both handicaps. RACE 3: HANDICAP – W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES IN CAREER – PURSE $19,000 – 1350 METRES.

1. SUPER GREY – 56.5; 2. CLASSY KIM – 55; 3. LADY ROSSIE – 54; 4. AFFIRM DECISION – 54; 5. BONUS POINT – 54; 6. LOUD MUSIC – 53.5; 7. WILD LIFE – 53; 8. JOAN OF ARC – 52.5;  9. HYARIMA – 51; 10. MILLENIUM DANCER – 51; 11. BAGGY GREEN – 50; 12. MY APHRODITE – 50; 13. VAN NISTELROOY – 50; 14. BOUND TO DOT COM – 49; 15. FRESH MANDATE – 48; 16. FULL OF PROMISES.

RACE 4: HANDICAP – IMPORTED MAIDENS 3 Y.O AND OVER – PURSE $21,000 – 1350 METRES.
 1. OUTRAGEOUS VICTORY – 56.5,; 2. PILE OF CASH – 53; 3. FROMNOWUNTIL – 53; 4. PATTI’S NO ANGEL – 52.5; 5. DUCHESS TREMBLY – 52; 6. NOTANOTHERNOBLE – 52; 7. X TO BOARD – 51; 8. MARACAS BAY – 49.5.

Trinity Masters Swim Club of Trinidad and Tobago returned from Barbados on Sunday with a haul of 37 gold, 33 silver and 19 bronze medals captured in the seventh Latin American and Caribbean Masters Swimming Championships at the Aquatic Centre.

The TT swimmers placed third overall out of 32 masters swim clubs from 16 countries. Brazil won the meet with Barbados second. Some of the other participating countries were  Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Guatemala, Argentina, Venezuela, Aruba, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Puerto Rico. Trinity’s top performers were Michael Stollmeyer (Male 65-69 category) and Pattyde la Rosa (Female 50-54 category). Both swimmers received the High Point Trophies in their categories. Stollmeyer won five gold medals and set five new Latycar records in the 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 metre freestyle events.  He also won his category in the three km ocean swim. Patty de la Rosa won three gold medals and set three new records in the 50, 100, and 200-metre breaststroke. She claimed silver in the 200-metre backstroke and bronze in the 200-metre freestyle. In the three- km ocean swim on Saturday de la Rosa topped the 50-54 female age group to win the gold medal. Other swimmers receiving tremendous success in their age groups were Donna Pollard (55-59 female) four gold and one silver; Geoffrey Ferreira (50-54 male) three gold and two silver, Louis Martin (50-54 male) three gold and one bronze; and Bruce Kaufmann (40-44 male) two gold and three silver.

Other gold medal winners in the pool included Amanda de la Rosa (25-29 female), Claire Morrall (30-34 female), Jackie Millar (40-44 female), Simon Sutcliffe (30-34 male)1, Richard Knaggs (45-49 male), Wayne Crooks (55-59 Male), and Lennox Amow (65-69 male) —- two gold. Trinity Masters were also very successful in the relay events winning three gold, five silver and one bronze medal. In the 240-279 combined year age group, the team of Michael Stollmeyer, Gordon Borde, Geoffrey Ferreira and Wayne Crooks won gold in the 4 X 50 freestyle and set a new Latycar record in the process.  This is the first time that Trinity have been able to field a team in this age group. After five days in the 50-metre swimming pool, the masters took to the ocean off Carlyle Bay on Saturday for a three km and five km race. Trinity Masters were very successful here again. In the three km swim Kate Carmichael won gold in the Pre-masters category, Richard Knaggs was first in the 45-49 male category with Paul Ahloy second.

Donna Pollard won gold in the 55-59 female category and Geoffrey Ferreira took silver in the 50-54 male category.  So together with the gold medals from Patty de la Rosa and Michael Stollmeyer, Trinity’s total in the three- km ocean swim was four gold and two silver Masters medals, and one Pre-Master gold.  Even though allowed to swim with the Masters, the Pre-Masters category (19-24 years) does not count for team points.  Masters are swimmers 25 years of age and older. In the 5km ocean swim, Trinity’s three entrants were all medal winners.  Claire Morrall won the gold medal in the 30-34 female category, Gordon Borde was first in the 65-69 male category and Jackie Jodhan placed third in the 35-39 female category. Creditable mention must be made of Trinity Masters first time swimmers who all achieved personal bests in their events. These included Jerry Chin Lee, Caroline Whorlow, Simon Sutcliffe, Wayne Crooks, Liz Jolley and Amanda de la Rosa.