T&T’s struggles on the netball court at The Hydro continued on Tuesday, with the “Calypso Girls” suffering their fourth consecutive heavy defeat at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The local netballers, coached by former national player Carlette Nurse, fell to another massive loss, 74-30, to Wales in their fourth preliminary round Pool B match.
T&T, who previously went under to Jamaica (81-22), Uganda (80-36), and Scotland (77-27), again had Afeisha Noel leading the scoring. The goal-shooter netted 15 goals from 17 attempts in a match completely dominated by the Welsh netballers. Starting defenders captain Jeresia McEachrane (goal-keeper) and Shian Lewis (goal-defence) had little success against Wales’ shooting combinations, which initially featured Georgia Rowe (31/31) and goal-attack Phillip Yarranton (10/11).
Rowe, who shot with 100 percent accuracy, and Yarranton operated efficiently in the first half, earning their team a 23-8 lead in the first quarter. In the second period, both were respectively replaced by Nansi Kuti and Zoe Matthewman, but their team’s level of play never dropped as Wales pushed its advantage to 24 goals (43-19) at halftime.
The Kuti-Matthewman shooting combination continued to thrive in the third stanza, building Wales’ lead to 34 (58-24) heading into the fourth quarter. Rowe returned for the final period and partnered with Matthewman to bring home the win for Wales, despite coach Nurse switching McEachrane to goal-defence and bringing Shaniya Morgan (goal-keeper) into the defensive circle.
At the other end, coach Nurse used several players in the goal-attack bib, including Makayla Grant (6/7), Demisha Henry (5/7), and veteran player Joelisa Cooper (4/5), to work with Noel. However, the outcome mirrored previous matches, meaning T&T remains at the bottom of the six-team Pool B standings with zero points.
Wednesday, T&T will have a rest day before taking on leader New Zealand Thursday in their final preliminary round match. Yesterday, the Kiwis defeated Uganda 58-50 to go to the top of the table with six points from three wins.
In Pool A results, South Africa eased past Northern Ireland 78-30, and Australia outplayed Malawi 68-32.
<Richards, Marchan through to 400m semis>
At the Scotstoun Stadium, T&T quartermilers Jereem Richards and Jaden Marchan both progressed out of round one in the men’s 400-metre event. Richards, a former Commonwealth Games 200m champion, cruised into the semifinals after topping heat five of six in a time of 45.72 seconds to be among the best 16 performers to move on. Second-placed Kalinga Hewa Kumarage of Sri Lanka was the only other runner from the heat to progress with a 46.28-clocking.
Moments earlier, Marchan was a third-place finisher with 46.17 in heat four, which saw the top four finishers moving on. He finished behind Jamaican Zandrion Barnes (45.13) and Australia’s Reece Holder (45.63), and ahead of Zambian Kennedy Luchembe (46.44), the other semifinalist.
Thursday, Marchan will be first up again for T&T in the semifinal round, running in lane four in heat one. Richards will feature in semifinal heat three, racing out of lane seven. Both will be seeking to reach Saturday’s medal race.
Following the race, Richards posted on Facebook: “Today was another reminder that it’s all a blessing. The opportunity to compete, the pressure, the expectations, and even the privilege of representing my country are gifts from God. My joy isn’t found in the result; it’s found in Him. Grateful to advance to the semifinals. One race at a time.” He added a quote from the Bible, saying: “’The joy of the Lord is your strength.’ — Nehemiah 8:10.”
No T&T sprinters advanced to the final of the 100-metre events. Competing in rainy conditions, former champion Michelle-Lee Ahye and Leah Bertrand missed out on a spot in the women’s dash, while lone men’s competitor Omari Lewis also came up short.
Ahye lined up in lane one of semifinal heat one of three and crossed fourth in a season’s best time of 11.28 seconds behind Australian Torrie Lewis (11.00), Canada’s Audrey Leduc and Jamaica’s Jodea Williams (11.13). Ahye was hoping to be one of the non-automatic qualifiers, but it was not to be.
Bertrand followed her out in the next semifinal, clocking 11.45 to place fifth in a race won by Imani Lansiquot of England in 11.13. Second-placed Canadian Sade McCreath was the other automatic qualifier with an 11.19-timing. The top three finishers in the third and final heat–Englishwoman Amy Hunt (11.02), New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs (11.04), and Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith (11.07)–completed the line-up for the final. Later, Hobbs (10.93) emerged as the gold medalist, followed by Hunt (10.98), who copped silver, while bronze went to Lewis (10.99).
In the men’s dash, Lewis finished fifth with a time of 10.15 in the second semifinal heat and did not advance in a race won by eventual bronze medallist, Nigerian Kayinsola Ajayi (9.94). Wales’ Jeremiah Azu also booked his spot in the final after placing second with 10.00. Ajayi placed third in the final in 9.90 behind gold medallist Emmanuel Eseme (9.83) of Cameroon and silver medallist Australian Lachlan Kennedy (9.85).
Nathan Cumberbatch was also in action yesterday but unfortunately did not make it past the preliminary round in the men’s 800m event. Cumberbatch raced out of lane three in the third of four heats and crossed fifth in a time of 1:48.97.
Wednesday, Kelsey Daniel will be aiming to leap for gold when he tackles the men’s long jump final. Over on the track, Reese Webster is listed to compete in the women’s 200m round one. She will line up in heat one, running out of lane three. Other entrant in the half-lap event, Shaniqua Bascombe was among the list of athletes, who qualified directly to the semifinals.
<Stewart hunts discus throw medal>
T&T lone para athlete Akeem Stewart will feature Wednesday in the men’s discus throw F42-44/F61-64 final. The world (F43) record-holder, enters with a personal best mark of 63.70m, will compete against nine other competitors.
