PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Reigning World 400 metres hurdles champion, Jehue Gordon, and Olympic javelin champion, Keshorn Walcott, both snatched gold to share headlines on the final day of the National Championships here Sunday.
The 23-year-old Gordon turned back a strong challenge from defending national champion, Emmanuel Mayers, before reaching the finish in a time of 50.06 seconds at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Mayers claimed second spot in 50.24 while Ruebin Walters clocked 51.82 for third place.
Gordon and Mayers were locked in a keen battle from the start and with little to separate them throughout, were almost level coming off the last hurdle.
However, Gordon produced a stronger sprint to the finish to snatch the vital win, which serves as a welcome boost ahead of the defence of his World title in Beijing this August.
Walcott, meanwhile, produced a superb throw of 84.84 metres at the very first time of asking, to break his championship record.
Shakiel Waithe took silver with a personal-best throw of 77.30 while Grenadian Anderson Peters clinched bronze with 74.20.
Walcott’s first throw all but ended the event as a real contest and though he followed up with a second round mark of 82.71m, he abandoned his remaining attempts.
The 23-year-old came to national fame at the London 2012 Olympics when he became the youngest athlete to win Olympic gold in the men’s javelin, and the first black to win an Olympic throwing event.
Meanwhile, Kyle Greaux and Reyare Thomas were crowned national 200m champions, when they won their respective marquee half-lap events on the night.
