Olympic and National Athlete Dennik Luke’s hopes of qualifying for the next round in the Men’s 800 meters were shattered as he failed to make it out of his heat.
Running in Lane 3, in heat number one, Luke clocked 1 minute 50.06 seconds which was good enough for a 6th place finish in his heat.
The heat was won by Jame Webb of England in a time of 1 minute 48.86 seconds.
Meantime national athlete Judah Corriette clocked 1 minute 57.04 seconds to finish in 7th place in heat number 2.
Neither athlete qualified for the semi finals.
National Athlete Derrick St Jean also failed to advance in the men’s 400 meter event at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games this morning.
He secured a 6th place finish in his heat.
Running in lane 3 in Heat number 5, St Jean managed to record a time of 48.51 seconds.
The heat was won by Muzala of Zambia in a time of 44.89 seconds.
Jevaughn Powell of Jamaica was second in 46.14 seconds and Alonzo Russell of the Bahamas was third in a time of 46.41 seconds.
St Jean did not qualify for the semi finals.
I watched both runners on live t.v. In the 800 mts.heats this morning and was hopeful but I did not see exactly what Gavin saw apparently. Corriette came last in his heat and I did not see him finish. In any case there was no time shown against his name on the screen by the BBC, it was blank.Luke was a respectable finisher but did not qualify ,not only because he was not in the first two but apparently he also stepped outside his lane at the start of the race. Anyway that is what I saw live
No knowledgeable sports enthusiast expects Dominica athletes to do well even if we hope for their greatest success. But, unfortunately, hope doesn’t always materialise into reality.
As with the economy, health care, agriculture, and the entire country, success is just a fleeting dream. Corruption, combined with incompetence, greed and selfishness has severely stunned the progress of Dominica.
*Proper swimming pool for training – Missing!
*Proper track & field stadium – Missing!
*Proper accredited and competent coaches – Missing!
I repeat, the Grenadian athletes are punching above their weight on the international scene. Dominicans can do likewise, and better, if expose to the same enabling environment.
Those presently in charged of this country should be discharged from the helm of political power.