Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 26/Jun 15:36

Trinidad and Tobago Jr Pan Am cyclists urged to carry sport forward

TRINIDAD and Tobago's five-member contingent, which grabbed eight medals at the 2024 Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Lima, Peru, returned home early on June 25 to a warm reception at the Piarco International Airport. The young, promising cyclists Danell James, Jadian Neaves, Jelani Nedd, Syndel Samaroo and Makaira Wallace, who copped a team-high three medals, were greeted by officials from the TT Cycling Federation (TTCF), family members, and representatives from the Sports Company of TT (SporTT) and the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, who presented them with tokens for their efforts at the championship. The cyclists were urged to continue their positive strides and were challenged to take the sport to further heights, a SporTT release said. The team landed four silver and four bronze medals apiece. TTCF vice-president Linton John said, "We maintain as a federation that what we do is to try our best to ensure that when we go out there, we represent our country to the fullest. We are really proud of what you did for (TT) this time around. "It's a long time we (haven't had) this number of medals so we truly appreciate you all this time around and we really hope you will continue to advance and carry the sport in such a way that we will have more people doing their best." Wallace, the lone female cyclist in the TT contingent, grabbed silver medals in the women's sprint and 500-metre time trials events, to go along with a bronze medal finish in the gruelling keirin event. On her way to silver in the sprint event, Wallace set a new elite women and junior flying 200m record by stopping the clock at 11.361 seconds. Wallace lost to Colombian cyclist Stefany Cuadrado Florez in the sprint final, and the South American World Junior keirin champion showed her class again by leading her nation to a one-two finish in the keirin. Jadian Neaves grabbed two medals (men's omnium bronze and points race bronze), with Danell James (men's keirin bronze) and Jelani Nedd (men's sprint silver) earning one individual medal each, in addition to the team sprint silver they earned alongside Syndel Samaroo. TT's Junior Pan Am coach Elijah Greene urged the youngsters to continue their progress and he thanked the TTCF and the cyclists' parents for putting their trust in him. "Where the team is concerned, I'd like to say I'm very proud (of you all)," Greene said. "You're heading in the right direction. We went out there and we stood out. Just continue the journey." TT Jr Pan Am Track Cycling Champs medal tally: Makaira Wallace – silver (women's sprint, 500-metre time trial); bronze (women’s keirin) Jadian Neaves – bronze (men’s omnium, points race) Danell James – silver (Team sprint); bronze (keirin) Jelani Nedd – silver (men's sprint, Team Sprint) Syndel Samaroo – silver (Team Sprint) The post Trinidad and Tobago Jr Pan Am cyclists urged to carry sport forward appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.