Semoy Hackett and Lalonde Gordon are T&T’s highest ranked athletes on the latest 2011 IAAF World Indoor rankings. Hackett, the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Division II Outdoor 100m and 200m champion is third on the women’s 200m list with second quickest time for the year of 22.98 seconds. The 2009 World Championship 100m semi-finalist clocked the time in finishing third at the LSU/Texas A&M Dual meet at College Station, Texas on January 22. The Louisiana State University student was edged out of second place by Jeneba Tarmoh of the USA who also clocked 22.98 seconds. Winning the race was another American Jessica Baird who crossed the line in 22.95 seconds, the fastest time in the world. Hackett’s time is a personal best for the 2009 World Championship sprint relay finalist and is now the third local woman to run under 23 seconds in the indoor one lap event.
The Bishop High School graduate is behind Kelly Ann Baptiste (22.90) in March 2007 and Fana Ashby (22.91) in March 2005. Hackett was also eleventh in the 2011 60m dash with 7.24 seconds (equalling her personal best) also set January 22nd. The 2006 CAC Junior double sprint bronze medallist was named the South Eastern Conference female athlete for the week ending January 25. Gordon improved to eighth in the men’s 200 sprint with 20.93 seconds. The 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games 4x400m relay bronze medallist set a personal best in winning at the Boston University Terrier Classic meet in Boston, USA on January 29.
The 22-year-old Commonwealth Games 400m semi-finalist jumped up four spots on the standings after lying at number 12 last week following his win in 21.23 at the Metro Coaches Invitational New York, USA on January 7. Gordon’s fellow CAC Games bronze medallist Zwede Hewitt helped his Baylor University 4x 400 relay team to third place in the world rankings. The reigning national 400m champion and his team-mates clocked 3:07:88 to finish second at the Razorback Invitational meet held at Fayetteville, Arkansas on January 29. Commonwealth Games women’s triple jump silver medallist Ayana Alexander is listed at 17th in the women’s triple jump standing.