media_artricles :: 2015 |
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Colombia’s Rios lifts T&T Marathon titleKeith Clement :: Trinidad Guardian :: 26.01.2015Colombia’s long distance runner Juan Cardona Rios stopped the clock at two hours, 21 minutes and 13 seconds (2:21.13) to win the 2015 edition of the T&T International Marathon which started at St Mary’s Junction, Freeport and concluded at Whitehall at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain yesterday. The Colombian running in his third consecutive T&T Marathon out lasted a field of 120 challengers under humid conditions along the 26.2 miles journey. He won the race in 2013 in 2:23.51 and was third in last year’s edition in 2:26.51. The course record is held by former multiple winner Pamenos Ballentyne of St Vincent, who clocked 2:15.30 in 2003 and 2:20.57 in 2004. It was a reversal of positions for the top three runners. Hilary Kimaiyo of Kenya, the 2014 winner (2:23.39) had to settle for second spot and compatriot Mark Chepses who was second in (2;24.09) a year ago, settled for third. T&T’s Curtis Cox crossed the finish-line in a creditable seventh place in 2:48.12. He was 2005 winner in 2:24.21. Among the women, it was first time test for champion Truphene Busieni of Kenya (2:55.07), Monica Gonzales of Colombia (2:58.12) and Leah Kigen of Kenya the winner of the event in 2013 (2:52.30) and 2014 in (3:01.13) has to settle for third in this edition behind 3:00.16 seconds. The best time recorded among women is 2:34.17 set by Denmark’s Gitte Carlshoey back in 2003. The half marathon which attracted an impressive field of 336 finishers was dominated T&T’s Shayne Barran (1:18.15) and Tonya Nero (1:19:30) in the men’s and women’s division. The highlight of the race was participation by Brian Lewis, the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president who used the event to promote T&T’s challenge for ten olympic medals by 2022. Lewis’ goal was to cross the finish-line at 10:30 am some seven hours after his 26.2 miles walk. However, he arrived at Whitehall at 10:25 am some six hours and 55 minutes later, but well inside the projected time set. He started walking at 3:30 am. Lewis, 54, attracted support from for T&T Olympic medallists Ato Boldon, George Bovell III, Richard Thompson, Jarrin Solomon, Emmanuel Callender, Keshorn Walcott and the likes of Michelle Lee Ahye, Cleopatra Borel are some of the high profile T&T athletes. T&T 2015 MARATHON RESULTS
MEN HALF MARATHON
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Enlarge Image T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis at the finish-line, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES |
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