Green captures 200m gold at Hampton Games
Stabroek News
May 5, 2004
Top local sprinter Rawle Green won the men's open 200 metres gold medal and captured a silver in the 100 metres at the Hampton Games held over the weekend at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.
Green, who is looking to secure a 'B' qualifying standard for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, clocked 21:45 seconds to beat into second position Kerry Noray of Antigua/Barbuda (21,47s) while Guyanese Keith Roberts placed third in 21:79 seconds.
Green, who spearheads a five-member team from Bedford All Stars Athletic Club to the Games in the twin-island republic, returned to secure second place in the 100 metres with a time of 10:61 seconds.
The event was won by Winston Smith of Jamaica in a time of 10:45 seconds with Mike Major of the United States finishing third in 10:75. Guyanese Andre Blackman came in fourth in 10:81.
Another Bedford Athlete, Tai Payne secured two bronze medals in the men's open 400 and 800 metres events.
Trinidadians Simon Pierre and Bedawi Gomez finished first and second respectively in the men's open 400 metres with Payne recording third in 48.22 seconds.
Payne recorded 1:55.39 seconds in the 800 metres which was won by Simon Bovell of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in a time of 1:49:48s and Trinidadian Carlan Arthur second in (1:51:03s).
Guyanese Carwyn Bagott claimed a bronze in the men's Open long jump with a leap of 6:98 metres losing to Trinidadians Mickey Ruben and Anton Quashie who both recorded 6:99 metres.
Team manager, Wayne Walcott told Stabroek Sports he was very pleased with the performance of the team in Trinidad despite the training setback at home due to rain prior to the team's departure.
Walcott said it was Green's first major competition in 10 months and he is hoping to compete in several regional competitions in the next two months with the hope of meeting the qualifying times for the Summer Olympic Games.
"We have a commitment from a sponsor so we are looking forward to competing at the Whitsuntide Games in Grenada at the end of this month but prior to that there are at least two meets one in St, Vincent and the other in Trinidad in the middle of the month we are interested in attending," Walcott disclosed.
He is also not ruling out attending the Barbados National championships (Olympic qualifying) in June.
He said both Green and Payne are prospects for the Olympics and they are pushing to qualify at venues that are sanctioned by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).
Athletes from Royal Youth Movement (RYM) also made their presence felt by winning 15 medals including one gold in the junior section of the Hampton Games.
Reports state that the Games attracted several athletes from North America and the Caribbean who are attempting to qualify for the Olympics.