Pellau Magazine

Deon Lendore... seeks to seal a spot on the T&T Olympic team this Saturday.
 

The men's 400 metres looks to be a real contest when compared to recent years where 2009 World Championships bronze medallist Renny Quow was a run-away winner in 2008, 2009 and 2011. This year Deon Lendore will lead the charge with his 45.13 Olympic A standard clocking. The Texas A&M University student also ran 45.19 and 45.28. Quow has a season best of 45.48 and will have to be at his finest as 19-year-old Lendore is coming off a fantastic debut on the US Collegiate circuit making it all the way to the NCAA finals after landing the Big 12 indoor and outdoor crowns. Quow's fellow world indoor 4X400m bronze medallists Gordon (45.33) and Jarrin Solomon (45.92), along with Zwede Hewitt, Ade Alleyne-Forte and juniors Machel Cedenio and Jereem Richards should all make a combative final come Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Lendore will be eager to make up for pulling out of last year's finals but the 2011 World Championships campaigner told the T&T Guardian, during last weekend's Morvant Jets Games, he is aiming at just getting a good race. Lendore said: "I don't have to think too much about running hard to qualify. I have to focus on getting in a good race and not be pressured in getting in a qualifying time."
 
 
The Abilene Wildcats sprinter added he was looking forward to the London Olympics where he is hoping to get into the top eight. "I want to make the Olympic finals. Racing at that level will help me in the future and with college life next year," he said. The three-time Pan American Junior medallist said his success in his junior years have helped him in moving into the men's division. Lendore said: "The one or two chances I had running on the men's team as a junior helped. I was part of Trinidad and Tobago's men's 4X400m team which ran at the Bahamas Championships, captured silver at the 2011 CAC Senior Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and also competed in the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, later in the year. "Competing at World Youth and Junior Championships gave me an idea of what to expect in college (University)," he added. The Queen's Royal College graduate added that though he was confident, he was surprised at how well he did in his freshman year at Texas A&M. "I went out there to try and qualify for the Olympic Games because I thought I was able to do so at the beginning (of the season) so I went out there to train hard towards it." 
He went on to say: "The first time I got it (the Olympic qualifying standard) I was kind of surprised though but when I got it the second time I realised that I actually did it. Then every race after that I just tried to see how fast I can go. Right now I am going for a faster time at the Championships (this weekend) to secure a spot on the Olympic team."
 
 
Lendore said he took some time to get accustomed to his new training regime and university life. "It was not easy at first because the training is different to what I was doing here in Trinidad. Even the warm-up is totally different. It took me two to three months to get accustomed. I have been there a while and things have gotten a little better." On going all the way to the NCAA finals where he finished eighth in 45.63, the Arima lad was grateful for the experience. He said: "It was a stepping stone toward the Olympics. In London it will be just as hard. It felt wonderful, especially in an Olympic year. The guys ran fantastic times. There were guys who ran great times and did not even qualify for the finals. In the 400m 45.2 was not good enough." The 2009 World Youth medley relay finalist added that mental preparation was one of the ingredients in his successful season. "You have to be prepared for that mentally because you will get the physical preparation in training," Lendore said. "You have to do your part by not thinking about it too much. You have to get your mind in place and ready for all the travelling because sometimes it takes a toll on you." The Charles Joseph-coached athlete is thankful for the support he has been receiving. "I must thank my mom (Christina Edmund), my coach here in Trinidad (Charles Joseph) and my coach back in Texas. Also my teammates and friends at school.  My mom calls me every weekend so when I have a bad race that helps me," he said.
 
 
King leads 3-member Bermuda team
 
Meanwhile Former World Youth champion Arantxa King will lead a three-member team from Bermuda to compete at the NGC/Sagicor Open Championships this weekend at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. King, who took the 2005 World Youth girls long jump title in Marrakech, Morocco, will represent Bermuda in the event at next month's London Olympics. The Stanford University student will square off against local jumper Carisa Leacock who attends Iowa University. King is joined by sprinter Tre Houston and 800m runner Aaron Evans. Reigning World men's 400m champion Kirani James will not be in action with Grenada's 4X400m.  An official of the Grenada's Athletic Association (GAAA) confirmed that James will not be making the trip. World Championships finalist Rondel Bartholemew will lead the Spice Island lads.
> from The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-06-21/lendore-looking-olympic-400m-spot
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