Aquinas Alum St. Fort Wins Bronze In Olympic Tune-up Meet

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In her final Olympic tune-up, St. Thomas Aquinas alum Khalifa St. Fort of Trinidad and Tobago won a bronze medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Track and Field Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

St. Fort, 18, who will make her Olympic debut at next month's Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, finished third in the 100-meter dash in 11.18.

"This means I am on to Rio 2016," said St. Fort, the only Caribbean woman in the final.

American and top-seed Candace Hill, who beat St. Fort last year for the World Youth title, won in a championship record 11.07. Hill also anchored the winning 4x100-meter relay. Poland's Ewa Swoboda was second in a national record 11.12.

"I felt that I had a great start," St. Fort said. "Everything was so great. I am so blessed to be able to compete out here injury-free."

St. Fort received her bronze medal and flowers from her coach and Olympic medalist Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago.

"I am so happy for Candace and Ewa and look forward to competing against them in the future," St. Fort said. "I love it. I am so happy. I will be here as long as I can be. Definitely expect me to be better. Don't forget my name."

St. Fort has been nursing a right hamstring injury which her coach has been monitoring closely. After the 100, St. Fort and Boldon decided not to compete in any other events at worlds.

St. Fort has her sights set on the 4x100-meter relay which she qualified for and is her country's best chance at an Olympic medal.