Sanjay Ayre

Former national 400m champion Sanjay Ayre was a winner at the Palio della Quercia EAA Permit meeting in Rovereto, Italy, yesterday.

Arye, who won the national 400m title, three years ago, took yesterday's event in 45.67 seconds.

Anton Kokorin of Russia was second in 45.77 and Trinidad & Tobago's Ato Modibo was third in 45.85.

In the men's 100m, Ainsley Waugh was fifth in 10.50, in the event won by Italy's Jacques Riparelli (10.24).

Ayre was happy for the victory, especially after a disappointing outing at the Beijing Olympics.

At the 29th Olympiad, which saw Jamaica finish with a best ever medal haul of 11, which included six gold medals, Ayre struggled as he failed to advance to the final of the Men's 400m, an event eventually won by the United States LaShawn Merrit.

There was also disappointment in relay action for the athlete, as having run the third leg on the Men's 4X4 relay team, Ayre, along with Michael Blackwood, Ricardo Chambers and Lansford Spence, finished in last place. The Americans, led by 400 silver medallist Jeremy Wariner with a 43.18 split on the final leg, won gold in an Olympic record 2:55.39.

"I'm glad to finish my season on a winning note," said Ayre, who finished third at the National Championships in June.

"This win was a moral boost for me, after the disappointment at the Olympic games," he continued.

Ayre added, "It was tough working on the track after the 4x400m knowing I was coming home without a medal".