George bags Discus bronze at World Masters Athletics

T&T at the 2016 World Masters Track and Field Championships
Perth, Australia
October 26-November 6

Submitted by Athletics T&T, athleticstnt@gmail.com

Secondary Schools' Track & Field 

George third in Discus
T&T's Geraldine George (left) with her bronze medal after finishing third in the women's 40-44 discus finals at the 2016 World Masters (Over 35) Track and Field Championships in Perth, Australia on Tuesday. Bettina Schardt of Germany (centre) won gold ahead of Elizabeth Teague of the USA (right). (Photo courtesy-Marsha Mark-Baird)

PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Geraldine George finished third in the women's 40-44 discus finals on sixth day of action at at the 2016 World Masters (Over 35)Track and Field Championships at the Ern Clark Athletic Centre in Perth, Australia on Tuesday (November 1). George recorded a best throw of 39.38m to take bronze behind Germany's Bettina Schardt (44.06) and American Elizabeth Teague (39.76). George's bronze is the fifth medal on won by the T&T team at the premier global masters athletic meet. The medal is also the second for George in the event after her silver at the 2013 World Champs in Porto Alegre, Brazil. She also collected her second medal in Perth. She copped silver in the javelin on Saturday. The national women's javelin record holder will be seeking her third medal in Perth when she lines up in the women's 40-44 shot put finals also carded for Wednesday morning. 

Dwayne Caines and Albert St. Louis missed out on medals in the 200m finals.  Caines was fourth in the men's 35-39 finals in 22.41 (wind:2.5). The 100m silver medallist was hoping to gain his second medal in Perth was kept off the podium by Great Britain's Richard Bearsell, who won in 21.76, Pablo Martinez of Spain (21.94) and American Sean Burnett 21.96. In the semifinals earlier in the day Caines was sixth fastest in 22.87 after he was third in the first semifinal. St. Louis finished in sixth in the men's 40-44 200m finals crossing the line in 22.71 (1.7).  In the semifinals Louis was fourth quickest (22.90) after he finished second in the second semifinal. St. Louis was aiming to returning to the podium after he was third in last year's finals in Lyon, France.

Philbert Ryce and Inga McIntyre bowed out at the semifinal stage. In the men's 45-49 200m semis Ryce was 10th quickest in 23.76, missing out on the finals by 0.04 seconds. The top nine advanced to the medal rounds. McIntyre was the 11th best in the women's 35-39 semis in 26.90. Mc Intyre was seventh in the 100m finals on Thursday.

Double gold medallist Marsha Mark-Baird will begin her quest for a third gold medal when she competes in the heats of the women's 40-44 80m hurdles heats on Wednesday morning. Mark-Baird retained the Heptathlon crown on Thursday before claiming the javelin gold in Monday. 

Trinidad and Tobago is currently at 31st on the medals table with five medals (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze). Hosts Australia head the standings with 277 medals (96, 103, 78) ahead of USA 95 (40, 23, 32) and Great Britain & NI 71 (26, 27, 18).

The 2016 World Masters Championships will run until November 6. At the 2015 edition in Lyon, France Trinidad and Tobago won 13 medals (six gold, three silver and four bronze). Ayana Hutchinson (women 35-39 100m), Sasha Springer (women's 35-39 200m), Marsha Mark-Baird (women's 40-44 long jump, Heptathlon), Geraldine George (women's 40-44 javelin)  and women's 35-39 4x100m (Ayana Hutchinson, Sasha Springer, Donelle Stafford and Marsha Mark-Baird) all stuck gold. The women's 4x100  set a new world record in in their triumph.  Springer (women's 35-39 100m), Hutchinson (women's 35-39 200m) and Albert St. Louis (men's 40-44 100m) were also won silver while  St. Louis (men's 35-39 200m),  George (women's 40-44 shot put),  Smith (women's 50-54 shot put/javelin) returned home with bronze.

The T&T team competing in Perth received assistance from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

T&T medallists at the end of Day Six
Gold-Marsha Mark-Baird (women's 40-44 Heptathlon: 5390 points, Javelin: 40.13m)
Silver-Geraldine George (women's 40-44 javelin-39.33), Dwayne Caines (men's 100m-10.91)
Bronze-Geraldine George (women's 40-44 discus-39.38)

DAY Six (1st November)-Results
W 40-44: BRONZE Geraldine George (TTO) 39.38

200m
M 35-39 finals: 4th Dwayne Caines (TTO) 22.41/2.5; semifinals: 6th (3h1) Caines 22.87Q
M 40-44 finals: 5th Albert St. Louis (TTO) 22.77/1.7; semifinals: 4th (2h1) St. Louis 22.79/2.0
W 35-39 semifinals: 11th (6h1) Inga McIntyre (TTO) 26.90 dnq
M 45-49 semifinals: 10th (4h2)  Philbert Ryce (TTO) 23.76/1.0 dnq