Champions back for T&T marathon

At least three former champions will be in the field for the 30th anniversary KISS Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM) on Sunday. Six-time female champion Mary Akor (USA) is expected to arrive today, as well as the male winners from 2006 and 2011, Kenyans Hilary Lelai and Paul Wachira.

But none of these will have an easy time chasing the top awards of US$3,600. Apart from the top local and Caribbean runners, Lelai and Wachira will have to overcome Colombian brothers Juan and Luis Cardona and Nigerian Muheez Aminu. The fastest of these, Juan Cardona, has a best time of 2 hours 13 minutes 29 seconds. Akor will also face hot opposition including Leah Kigen of Kenya, a previous winner of the Barbados marathon.

There are special awards reserved for T&T runners. Any local (male or female) who breaks the national record or fastest time by a national in previous local marathons will receive TT$6,000. Also the sponsors, KISS baking company, will award TT$1,000 to up to three local males and three local females, age 16 to 29, who beat 2 hours 50 minutes and 3 hours 15 minutes, respectively.

Another event on Sunday is the KISS T&T Half Marathon. Both marathon and half marathon will finish sometime shortly after 7.00 am opposite Whitehall, Queen’s Park Savannah. 

On Saturday, January 19, KISS TTIM will stage two events around the Queen's Park Savannah: the KISS School's Relay (3.00 pm) and the KISS International 5K (4.00 pm). The public is invited to the Savannah to witness all these events. The marathon can be followed live on the internet from 5.00 am Sunday morning at http://streamevents.tv

The KISS TTIM committee has designated the T&T Special Olympics as the charity being supported by this year’s events and a proportion of entry fees is being donated to that organisation.

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