Page 10 - Team TTO PARIS 2024

Flying

the

400

flag

This year marks the 60th anniversary of T&T’s first medals in the 400m and the
4x400m at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Over the years, we have produced a
number of world class athletes in the distance. Kwame Laurence takes us on a
journey through the 78-year long history of the event in T&T.

PG Wilson was crowned men’s 440 yards champion in 1946, at
this country’s very first National Championship meet. Charles
Prince, Gerald Yammie, Fitzroy Bates and Cliff Bertrand were
among the 440 champs in the ensuing years.

In the late 1950s, the event was switched to the 400 metres.
Wilton Jackson was golden in 1959. It was in 1964,
however, that Trinidad and Tobago announced itself as a
global 400 power.

Wendell Mottley was the man responsible for putting
T&T on the map. Just 23 at the time, Mottley
got to the line in a fast 45.2 seconds to secure silver
at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, behind
American Mike Larrabee (45.1).

Two days later, Mottley anchored T&T to bronze
in the 4x400m relay, combining with Edwin
Skinner, Kent Bernard and 200m bronze
medallist Edwin Roberts for a three minutes,
01.7 seconds clocking.

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