Colombia’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
1.      Juan Cardona Rios (Colombia) 2:21:13
2.      Hilary Kimaiyo (Kenya) 2:22:10
3.      Mark Chepses (Kenya) 2:22:17
4.      Andres Malavier (Colombia) 2:23:59
5.      Philemon Kipchlat (Kenya) 2:32:18
6.      Kelvin Johnson (Guyana) 2:40:18
7.      Curtis Cox (TT) 2:48:12
WOMEN
1.      Truphena Busieni (Kenya) 2:55:07
2.      Monica Gonzalez (Colombia) 2:58:12
3.      Leah Kigen (Kenya) 3:00:16 
4.      Christine Regis (TT) 3:19:57
5.      Karen Downey (Canada) 3:28:32
6.      Wendy Shallow (TT) 3:47:56
7.      Leisl Puckerin (TT) 3:51:44

HALF MARATHON

MEN
1.      Shayne Barran (TT) 1:18:15
2.      Lionel Dandrade (Guyana) 1:18:27
3.      Kasper Francis (TT) 1:22:34
4.      Kade Sobers (TT) 1:25:55
WOMEN
1.  Tonya Nero (TT) 1:19:30
2  Christelle Laurent (Guadeloupe) 1:31:33

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Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) President Brian Lewis completed the Trinidad and Tobago International marathon today, as he aimed to raise awareness and funds for the newly launched #10gold24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation initiative.

The initiative is designed to provide financial aid to Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes in the country, helping them to compete at the highest level possible, with the ambition that by 2024 Trinidad and Tobago will achieve 10 or more Olympic gold medals.

The funds are set to support athletes in several ways from direct financial support and health insurance, to medal bonuses and anti-doping education.

Lewis had previously expressed his concern at what he considered a shortfall in sports funding across the nation and by completing his "walk the talk" challenge, he hopes the public support he received translates into greater support for the countries athletes as they target medals at major championships.

""I am glad it [the walk] resonated so deeply with the public and it just goes to show there are still wonderful and tremendous people in this country who want to see the country progress," Lewis said following the marathon, which saw him cheered by supporters chanting "Trinidad and Tobago, we want gold!"

Lewis' marathon lasted for around seven hours, starting in the early hours of the morning in Freeport and coming to a close at Queen's Park Savannah in the country's capital Port of Spain.

Lewis was supported by athletes and supporters throughout his walk, including marathon swimmer Christian Marsden, and although the TTOC President suffered from cramps in the closing stages he was able to embrace the pain and finish.

"I had to dig real deep," said Lewis, who completed the marathon draped in the national flag.

"The pain from the cramps were so severe and after a while it actually felt that I had pulled my left hamstring in the last two miles.

"But quitting is not in my make-up."

Lewis will hope that his marathon will have a lasting effect for Trinidad and Tobago athletes with funds being raised to help the countries elite athletes to compete at the highest level.

Lewis goal prior to the marathon was to raise TTD$500,000 (£51,000/$79,000/€65,000) which will be used to help fund athletes preparing for Rio 2016.

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THE LAST Olympic Games of the Twentieth Century were held in Atlanta in 1996 and Trinidad and Tobago's 13 athletes were among those who witnessed another exceptional opening ceremony created and choreographed by one of this country's top Carnival designers, Peter Minshall.

Ato Boldon was now the main member of the track contingent: a World Championship bronze medal in 1995, and a time of 9.92 seconds in winning the 100m title at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, made him one of the favourites for the short sprint gold medal, along with world champion Donovan Bailey of Canada and Namibia's Frankie Fredericks.
Neil De Silva and Robert Guy also returned from 1992 and were joined by long jumper Wendell Williams, javelin thrower Kirt Thompson, long-distance runner Ronnie Holassie and female high jumper, Natasha Alleyne-Gibson.
After being written off after the Barcelona Games, Gene Samuel experienced another resurgence over the next few years and surprised everybody when he won the time trial crown at the 1994 Pan American Cycling Championships in Santiago, Chile. He later got a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Mar Del Plata in 1995, and surpassed the qualifying standard for Atlanta.
Amateur boxer Kirt Sinnette had to cross two hurdles before he became Trinidad and Tobago's third ever fighter at the Olympic Games. After losing out in a qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the light-middleweight was allowed to compete in another Pan Am tournament in Halifax, Canada - having achieved a sufficient standard in Puerto Rico. This time around, he made it to the final and earned his ticket to Georgia. Table tennis player, Dexter St Louis, also had to go through the rigours of a regional competition (in Havana, Cuba) before earning his berth.
Debra O' Connor's world ranking was the reason she was able to go to the Olympics, while female swimmers Siobhan Cropper and Cerian Gibbes had to make qualifying times before they could be allowed to join the contingent. O'Connor's Olympic adventure lasted just one game, as she lost 3-11, 0-11 to Canada's Denyse Julien in the opening around of the ladies badminton singles. Sinnette had everything going his way against Ethiopia's Yarod Wolde until a final round knockdown paved the way for the latter to triumph 11-10 on points. St Louis went out after failing to win a game in a first round group which comprised Sweden's Jorgen Persson, South Korean Kim Song-Hui and Brazil's Hugo Hoyama.

There were also preliminary heat exits for Cropper in the women's 50 and 100m freestyle and Gibbes in the 100 and 200m breaststroke. At the Olympic Stadium (which has since been converted into the Turner Field baseball stadium), Boldon cruised through his heats easily enough. However, prior to the final he and others were forced to contend with the distracting antics of British sprinter Linford Christie. The 1992 gold medallist refused to leave the track area after being disqualified for a second false start. When the starter's gun did eventually go off without a second report, Boldon did have an early advantage. But, Donovan Bailey suddenly accelerated over the last 40 metres to cross the line in a world record time of 9.84.Frankie Fredericks claimed the silver medal and Boldon, with his bronze effort in 9.90, was left with the consolation of capturing Trinidad and Tobago's first Olympic medal in 20 years. He would add a second bronze in the 200m after having to witness another world record performance from behind. This time, it was American Michael Johnson's 19.32 effort which vaulted him into history as the first man to complete the Olympic 200-400 double. Fredericks was once again second. De Silva reached the semi-finals of this event, just as he had done in the 400 to atone for the early elimination of Guy. Holassie was this country's first ever competitor in the men's marathon and he completed his historic run in a creditable 75th place. An embarrassing situation occurred when it was discovered by track officials that Wendell Williams' alleged qualifying jump in Germany had actually been wind aided and the athlete was refused entry into the long jump competition. The other two field athletes were unable to provide much of a consolation: Thompson placed 17th in the first round of the javelin; Alleyne-Gibson was also a first stage casualty in the women's high jump -- she recorded a best leap of 1.85m. As expected, Boldon was the most celebrated athlete on his return to Port of Spain, and the 22-year-old showed his gratitude by donating his medals to the display case at Royal Bank's branch at the corner of Park and Henry Streets.

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ARUN ROOPNARINE, Derron Douglas and Shreya Maharaj topped the rankings in their respective categories in table tennis for the second year in succession. Just as he had done in 2013, Roopnarine finished last year with the most points in the under-18 division, but he fell from the top spot in the under-21 category.
Arch-rival Aaron Wilson, the top under-13 player at the end ’13, defeated Roopnarine in the under-21 final of all three tournaments – Silver Bowl Championships, Tobago Open Championships and National Championships – to finish with a grand total of 2,450 points in his first year in the division.
Roopnarine was 650 points adrift in second but he accumulated 250 more than the Caribbean under-19 runner-up to remain the top under-18 player with 2,250 points. The 17-year-old beat Wilson in the final of “Silver Bowl” and “Nationals”, but came up second best when they clashed for the title in the Tobago Open. Savresh Mungal was a distant third in both categories.
After finishing just 50 points behind Nalini Boodoo in second in the under-18 division in the previous year, Brittany Joseph finished on top this time with 2,250, 750 clear of the second-placed Boodoo and Gyshan Latchman.
However, the two-time defending national under-18 champ fell to second in the under-21 division after totaling 1,700 points, 550 less than the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games representative Catherine Spicer, who beat her in the finals of the Tobago Open and “Nationals”. Joseph finished the year third in the senior rankings, while Roopnarine and Wilson ended up tied for second as Curtis Humphreys ended in the top spot for the fifth year in succession. After finishing 150 points ahead of fellow Tobagonian Messiah Walcott at the end of ’13, Douglas had an even tougher time against his arch-rival and only finished 50 points in front with 2,800 in the under-11 age-group.
And for the second year in a row, Maharaj, who ended with 2,650 points, topped the girls’ equivalent category by just 50 points. This time nine-year-old Priyanka Khellawan was second, while last year’s runner-up Surjah Welch ended up 500 points behind Maharaj in third. Benoni Daniel and Shanekah Johnson joined Douglas as end-of-year champs from the sister isle.
Daniel finished the year with 2,350 points, 100 more than nearest challenger Joshua Maxwell in the under-15 category.
After ending up a whopping 1,320 points behind Jasher De Gannes in second in the under-13 age-group last year, Johnson finished 200 ahead of her fellow Tobagonian this year with 2,250. They contested two finals and split the meetings, but Johnson missed the Tobago Open and last year’s Caribbean under-13 champ De Gannes did not defend her title in “Nationals.”
National C class champ Jesse Dookie tallied 2,350 points and beat out Welch’s brother Jakeem by 100 points to be the top under-13 player, while Danielle Dick was the top under-15 player with 2,700 points, 250 more than runner-up Boodoo. Wilson and Joseph will represent the sport in the First Citizens Junior Awards on Friday (Johnny see if you could find out the venue.

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