Aliann Pompey produced her season’s best time to book her place in the 400m final today after she advanced yesterday from the semi-final round with the second fastest time for the women’s event at the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
Pompey, the 2002 champion, ran her way to a time of 51.70s, which was only bettered by Botswana’s Amantle Montsho who clocked 50.80s in the first semi-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNS). Montsho and Pompey ran beside each other in lanes four and five respectively.
Pompey’s time was better than Olympian and 2010 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) champion, Christine Amertil of The Bahamas, who won semi-final two in a time of 51.94s. Scotland’s Lee Mc Connell was second in that semi-final with a time of 52.27s.
In semi-final three Nigerian Folashade Abugan, running out of lane six, registered a time of 51.78s while Carline Muir of Canada was second with 52.55s.
The lineup for the 400m women’s final reads: Montsho, Pompey, Abugan, Amertil, Mc Connell, Muir, Margaret Etim and Mandeep Kaup.
Based on the times from the semi-final Pompey will be in lane four, five or six and therefore is in a strong position.
Dexter Jordon wins
Meanwhile, the Guyanese boxing contingent in India at the Talkatora Stadium finally had something to cheer about as 2010 CAC flyweight bronze medallist Dexter Jordon stopped his Lesotho opponent Neo Thamahane. Jordon, when the fight was stopped, had a 6-0 margin over Thamahane.
Jordon’s next opponent will be Kenyan Benson Njangiry, who had beaten Camillos Kaikai of Papua New Guinea. Manager of the boxers, Steve Ninvalle yesterday said that Jordon produced an awesome display.
He revealed also that at the end of the bout Jordon was given rousing applause. That aside, Ninvalle said that the road will get rougher for Jordon who will be looking to add another piece of silverware to his collection of achievements.
His next bout will be on Saturday and the entire Guyanese contingent is behind the boxer. Guyana’s other two boxers Clevon Rock and Devon Boatswain have already been eliminated from the competition after they were both beaten by an 8-1 margin by Thomas Stalker and Afaese Fata respectively.
In the pool Guyana’s teenage swimmer Jessica Stephenson had her work cut out in the 100m breaststroke when she placed eighth in heat three, clocking 1:17.83. Australia’s Sarah Katsoulis won that heat in a time of 1:08.43 while Scotland’s Kerry Buchan (1:11.09) and Kathryn Johnstone (1:11.14) were second and third respectively.
