Mark London made it four wins in a row at the NAAA cross country race in Mt Irvine, Tobago yesterday. London, the Carifta boys under-20 800m champion, took an easy victory in the men's open 6K run on the undulating course.
He started slowly in the four-man field, before taking a commanding lead which he never relinquished. London crossed the line in 22 minutes 05.04 seconds, with his Zenith team-mate Akeem Duncan (24:48.30) and Jaguars' Michael Cowan (27:41.08), following.
Another Jaguars' athlete Jason Burnett was a distant fourth (31:36.03). London's winning streak started in 2009. This latest triumph is a rebound from his fourth place finish at the National Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships on November 4. London said the he was pleased with the effort. "It was okay and I used the run as training," London said.
Zenith runners dominated the day, winning all the races. Kenneil Billy and Shainne Thomas emerged champions in the under 20 4K division. Billy led the way in the boys race finishing in 15:01.86, leading a Zenith sweep of the top three places as Daniel Adams (15':55.94) and Bobby Roberts (16:27.07) took the minor places.
Thomas claimed the girls' equivalent in 16:56.05 from Neon Trackers' Elia Nero (18:31.84) and another Zenith lass Reneice Joseph (19:45.58). Nero was one of four athletes who made the trip over from T&T to compete in the annual race.
Samuel Toney and Afiya James brought Zenith more glory sweeping the under 15 2K categories.
Toney sped to victory in the boys one lap run in 7:03.08, relegating Jamali Gordon (Roxborough Sec-7:38.1) and Rayshorn Alleyne (Zenith-8:16.9) to second and third respectively. James sprinted to a close win in the girls race in 8:39.4 edging team-mate and former national primary school 3K champion Silinni Acosta (8:40.4) and Scarborough Secondary's Ornella Walker (8:40.7).
The Mt. Irvine race was the second of the NAAA cross country series. Chairman of the NAAA cross country committee, Durly Lucas said the turn-out was smaller than expected but the event went well because of the sunny conditions. Lucas said there was larger participation at the first leg on October 14.
The National Championships are scheduled for November 25 at the Queen's Park Savannah. Lucas explained all the country's top distance athletes are expected to participate.
"All the top athletes will be on show and we are expecting them to be ready because the race will serve as a trial to select the national team for the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Jamaica in February."
RESULTS
Men's Open 6K
1 Mark London Zenith 22:05.04
2 Akeem Duncan Zenith 24:48.30
3 Michael Cown Jaguars 27:41.08
4 Jason Burnette Jaguars 31:36.03
Under 20
Girls
1 Shianne Thomas Zenith 16:56.05
2 Elia Nero Neon Trackers 18:31.84
3 Reneice Joseph Zenith 19:45.58
Boys
1 Kenneil Billy Zenith 15:01.86
2 Daniel Adams Zenith 15:55.94
3 Bobby Roberts Zenith 16:27.07
4 Steve Lackhan Jaguars 20:08.59
Under 15
Girls
1 Afiya James Zenith 8;39.4
2 Silinni Acosta Zenith 8:40.7
3 Ornella Walker Scarborough Sec 8:40.7
4 Safiya John Zenith 9:34.3
5 Rickibah Isaac Health Olympians 13:14.8
Boys
1 Samuel Toney Zenith 7:03.8
2 Jamili Gordon Roxborough Sec 7;38.1
3 Rayshon Alleyne Xenith 8:16.9
4 Anson Moses Falcons 8:24.3
5 Ojani Walker Scarborough Sec 8:33.1
6 Shannon Daniel Falcons 10:18.2
7 Jahvani Daniel Falcons 12:12.4