Tonya Nero and Denzil Ramirez won the open titles at the 2012 National Cross Country Championships at the Queen's Park Savannah yesterday.
Nero (AthleticS Central) ran way with the ladies 6K three-lap run which started and ended in from of Queen's Royal College, in a fast time of 20:09.87 to finish well ahead of Dawnell Collymore (Memphis) and Paulette Luces (Unattached). The 23-year old took an early lead after the first lap and extended her advantage with each circuit as she was pulled by the Junior men 6K competitors. The multiple distance record holder finished fourth overall in the 6K.
Ramirez (National Security) was also a convincing winner in the men's open 8K four-lap event to cross the line in 24:42:28 to reclaim the title he won in 2010. Last year's winner Matthew Hagley (TTDF) had to settle for second (24:52.26) with the 2009 champion Richard Jones (One A Week) in third (25:04.87), dropping one place from his third place finish in 2011. Jules LaRhode (Penal Athletics) rounded off the top four (25:14.38). Ramirez lead the pack after the first lap with La Rhode, George Smith, Kendis Bullard, Curtis Cox and Kelvin Johnson in the leading pack.
Jones and Hagley were just off the pace. In the second lap Ramirez edged further ahead with La Rode, Johnson till chasing as Jones and Hagley moved up into contention. On the penultimate lap Ramirez had a commanding lead with Hagley moving up into second. Jones passed La Rode just before the final bend to take third. Johnson dropped back to fifth with Bullard in sixth and Cox in seventh. Olympic men's 400m hurdles sixth place finisher Jehue Gordon was 23rd. Hagley led his Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) outfit to the team title ahead of Penal and UWI.
Akeem Marshall (Toco Titans) held on his Junior Men 6K title in with a run-a-way victory in 19:15.70 quickly than his 2011 clocking of 20:03. The Toco Secondary student finished ahead of 2009 winner Mark London (Zenith) and Javon Joseph (Air Bon Sonics). There was an upset in the Junior women 4K as Marshall's club mate Donicia Antoine was surprisingly beaten by Dominique Williams (Neon Trackers).
Antoine lead from the start in the 2 lap event and seem headed for another win but Williams ran past her on the back stretch before the home finish to win in 15:47:3. Antoine had to settle for second (15:59.2) with another Toco Titan runner Mikayla Ottley in third (16:44.8).
2012 RESULTS
Men Open 8K
1 Denzil Ramirez Nat Security 24:42.28
2 Matthew Hagley Defence Force 24:52.26
3 Richard Jones One A Week 26:04.87
4 Jules La Rode Penal 25:14.38
Women Open 6K
1 Tony Nero Athletic Central 20:09.87
Dawnel Collymore Memphis
3 Paulette Luces Unattached
Junior Men 6K
1 Akeem Marshall Toco Sec 19:15.71
2 Mark London Zenith
3 Jevon Joseph Air Bon Sonics
Junior Women 4K
1 Dominique Williams Neon Trackers 15:47.3
Donicia Antoine Toco Titans 15:59.2
3 Mikayla Ottley Toco Titans 16:44.8
4 Elia Nero Neon Trackers 16:58.3
Under 15
Boys
1 Renaldo Marshall Toco Titans 6:07.71
2 Atiba Samuel Palo Seco 6:08.40
3 Samuel Toney Zenith 6:25.28
4 Jaden St .Louis Cougars 6:28.69
Girls
1 Keishel Mc Intyre Cougars
2 Shirley Stapleton Cougars
3 Shaquena Daniel Zenith
4 Zaia Hary Air Bon Soncis
Under 13
Boys
1 Chris Callender Toco Titans
2 Avindale Smith D'Abadie Progressive
3 Hezekiel Booddoo Valencia
Girls
1 Kiella Williams Toco Titans
2 Dianne Hamilton Palo Seco
3 Asha James Zenith
Under 11
Boys
1 Daveon Callender Toco Titans
2 Tahir Edwards Toco Titans
3 Rahiem Lockhart Burnley
Girls
1 Rae-Ann Serville Memphis
2 Casandra Joseph Toco Titans
3 Zakiya Willliams Cougars