Paul pedals to match sprint gold for T&T

WALTER ALIBEY

Senior Multimedia Reporter

[email protected]

Nicholas Paul sealed the gold medal in the final of the men’s match sprint event, his second gold medal at the Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Santiago, Chile, yesterday.

It also took the T&T tally to five medals on penultimate day of competition, with Paul claiming two gold medals (keirin and match sprint), Teniel Campbell won gold in the women’s scratch, Akil Campbell a bronze in the men’s scratch, and the country’s team sprint team a bronze medal in that event.

Paul was in ominous form in the final against Cristian Ortega Fontalvo, twice moving into explosive mode to leave the Colombian behind him. Paul said he sacrificed his Christmas for his achievements.

“I didn’t have a long Christmas because I prepared from December into February because I know the Pan Am Championships were early this year, so throughout Christmas I trained. I would like to dedicate his victory to God because without him this wouldn’t be possible. Secondly, my family and friends, and all the supporters in T&T and around the world,” Paul said.

Njisane Phillip received the fourth-place finish as Nick Wammes held him off for the bronze medal.

The two-time Olympian forced a decider after Wammes exhibited blinding speed to take the advantage in the first ride. Phillip then delivered a perfectly executed ride that kept the Canadian at bay for the first lap before beating him in a mad dash to the finish.

However, luck did not favour him in the deciding ride, as the Canadian blocked him anytime he attempted to put foot to the pedal. And with just over 100 yards to go, the T&T rider gave up the fight.

Earlier, Paul resumed from Friday’s impressive display from the 1/8 round, where he ousted Edgar Ismael Verdugo of Colombia to seal a place in the quarters. He later disposed of Colombian speedster Kevin Quintero for the right to be in the round of four, where Canadian Nick Wammes, the fourth-fastest rider from the qualifiers with a time of 9.652 seconds, awaited him.

Paul’s tremendous sprinting ability assured he left the flying 200-metre qualifiers as the fastest rider on the track at 9.400 on Friday. This he used to his advantage against the Canadian quickie, leaving him in his wake in the semifinal to earn a berth in the final.

Meanwhile, Phillip was denied a place in the final by Colombian Cristian Ortega Fontalvo in the other semifinal ride.

Phillip rolled back the years on Friday by cruising past Venezuelan Alberto Andreas Suarez in quarterfinal heat 2; however, his encounter with Fontalvo in the semis ended in disaster, as the Colombian quickie defeated him (Phillip).

Jadian Neaves, a day after shattering the individual pursuit record, was fourth in the men’s omnium scratch race.