Hagley, Nero cop TTIM 5K

Despite being unable to post a quicker time from his third place finish last year, seasoned runner Matthew Hagley was able to secure first place at the 5K event, which opened the two-day Kiss T&T International Marathon (TTIM), at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. 

T&T’s Hagley posted a time of 16:14, some ten seconds slower than his 2012 finish, but he was still able to outpace fellow countrymen Richard Jones (16:21) and Jules La Rode (16:27), who took second and third spot, respectively. 

In the women’s event, recently crowned UWI half-marathon champion and women’s distance record holder, Tonya Nero, took top honors with a 20:23 finish, which too was well short of the top time posted at last year’s event. Nearly a minute behind was her sister Scarla Nero (21:30), followed by third-placed Celine Lestrade (22:25). 

The race featured a pleasant surprise in the return of the inaugural winner of the TTIM, local runner Flavia Marin, who took the women’s title back in 1983. 

While two new victors were found in the 5K race, Fatima College successfully retained its crown in the Secondary Schools’ division, when its four runners posted a time of 11:44. Fifty-eight seconds short was Trinity College of Moka, which ended runner-up, followed by Belmont Secondary. 

Brazil RC was the top Primary School challenger with a finishing time of 17:48 seconds. 

Proceeds from the 5K event, some of which included registration fees, will be distributed to the Special Olympic Organisation. 

Action will continue today, with the highly anticipated main event, the full marathon, which is set to officially begin at 5 am at the St Mary’s Junction, Freeport.

Early runners of the full marathon will take off from 3.30 am, while the starters of the half-marathon event will make a 5.45 am start from E-Tech Park, Frederick Settlement, Caroni. 

The marathon winner is expected to arrive at the finishing line, opposite White Hall, QPS, at approximately 7.15 am. 

The awards ceremony for the winners will be staged at the same venue from 9.30 am, two hours before the race course closes. Returning to defend her crown in the women’s race is American Mary Akor, who has four consecutive TTIM women’s titles to her name and six in total. 

Kenya’s Philemon Kipchilat will not feature in this year’s race, which may potentially pave way for a local male athlete to take the title. The last time a local won the race was in 2005, when Curtis Cox clocked in at 2:24:21. 

5K Results 
Men 
Matthew Hagley- 16:14
Richard Jones- 16:21
Jules La Rode- 16:27

Women 
Tonya Nero- 20:23
Scarla Nero- 21:30 
Celine Lestrade- 22:25.