2013 TIT & FG…Caribbean athletes on show in Toronto

By Ravendra Madholall

A large number of athletes from across the Caribbean will be displaying their skills on Tuesday in Toronto where the third annual Toronto International Track and Field Games (TIT&FG) is set to take place.
The event will feature ten events and excitement is highly anticipated when the runners will be at the starting line in the late afternoon at the University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre.
Reigning 100-metres Commonwealth Games and Pan American champion star runner Lerone Clarke from Jamaica will be competing with several local and foreign stalwarts in this category, while the men’s 400-metres talent Michael Mathieu from Bahamas is expected to provide great entertainment as well.
Trinidadian and two-time Olympian Rondell Sorrillo will be present, while Jason Rogers from St. Kitts among others are scheduled to arrive on Sunday in Toronto for the meet, which should attract a large crowd.
John Craig, a representative of the tournament, told this publication via telephone, that all the athletes have confirmed their participation while the venue is also in full shape for the day’s event.
“Yes, the action should be exciting given the fact we have these speed merchants coming from around the world to participate and they have confirmed their readiness so I guess it should be a good day of racing under the umbrella of the TIT&FG,” Craig related.
He also stated the venue is in good shape for the mega event and hosting it for the third year in succession, athletes should have no problem on the track on Tuesday from the commencement of the action.
“All logistic and other works have been completed and we ready to show the world that we can invite athletes with great potential and who have done well on other international events like the 2012 Olympics to come out and showcase their talent in the different divisions,” Craig declared.
Meanwhile, this year’s event will see Scotiabank sponsoring 10 track and field teams from high schools in the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, who will compete against top athletes from high schools in Ontario as well as Michigan, U.S.A.
The teams will compete in the Scotiabank International High School 4×100 Relay Championship, according to Craig.
In addition to that, Clarke can expect stiff competition from Torontonian Justyn Warner and Aaron Brown in his category. Brown, during a training session at the same venue, mentioned that he is very optimistic of winning all the races and stated that home advantage is a big boost to his confidence.
The 31-year-old Clarke, who also specialises in the 60m, won gold for Jamaica at the 2009 World Championship in Berlin in the 400m relay while he captured numerous gold and silver medals at the local meets over the year.
Clarke, a dynamic athlete, has represented Jamaica three times at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and holds the Jamaican record of 6.47 seconds in the 60 m sprint.