SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s Nicholas Paul produced a flawless ride in the men’s keirin final on Thursday to secure the country’s second gold medal at the Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Santiago, Chile.
The flying T&T cyclist seized control of the title ride and never relinquished it, storming across the finish line with arms raised in triumph to add keirin gold to his burgeoning international collection.
In his post-race interview, Paul said he is elated that he could come out on top ahead of some stiff competition.
“I feel really good to win, I worked really hard, and it is great coming to Chile and winning the kerin.”
Akil Campbell followed family tradition to claim bronze in the men’s scratch race, emulating his sister Teniel’s medal-winning feats and bringing T&T’s overall medal tally to four at these championships.
But there was heartbreak for two-time Olympian Njisane Phillip, who came agonisingly close to adding another medal in the keirin final, only to be edged out by Canadian Nick Wammes in a desperate dash to the line.
Both Paul and Phillip raised hopes of podium finishes with commanding semifinal displays, and both advanced in style.
In heat one of the semifinals, Paul produced a masterclass in tactical riding. Starting from fourth position behind the derny, he bided his time before unleashing his trademark explosive speed to catch early breakaway artist Edgar Verdugo.
Once the powerful Trinidadian hit the front, there was no catching him as he powered home to seal his final berth.
The 2019 world record holder, whose staggering 9.100 seconds in the flying 200m in Cochabamba, Bolivia, earned him the title of fastest man on wheels, showed precisely why he remains one of the sport’s most feared sprinters.
His fierce rival, Colombia’s Kevin Quintero, secured the runner-up spot to also book his place in the final, alongside Canada’s James Hedgcock.
In the second semifinal, Phillip rolled back the years with a vintage performance. Settling into third as the derny entered the track, he wasted no time surging to the front, proving he still possesses the legs to compete at the highest level.
But in a tense final, despite strong form throughout, Phillip could not find a way past the stubborn Wammes, who snatched the bronze medal in a frantic sprint finish.
Endurance specialist Akil Campbell delivered a typically gritty performance to secure bronze in the 15km scratch race, continuing a remarkable family tradition. His sister Teniel has long been T&T’s standard-bearer in endurance events, and Akil proved the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.
Campbell, who in 2021 became T&T’s first endurance rider to medal at these championships, showed superb race craft to accumulate vital points from well-timed breakaways. Bermuda’s Conor White claimed gold, with USA’s Grant Koontz taking silver.
In the women’s competition, Makaira Wallace showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals of the match sprint.
Wallace, who had earlier withdrawn from the team sprint, was one of three T&T riders in the sprints. Teammates Kyra Williams and Phoebe Sandy both progressed through qualifiers but were eliminated in subsequent matchups.
Alexi Ramirez also flew the T&T flag in the women’s elimination race, finishing eighth.
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