Sherwyn Stapleton and Samantha Shukla, T&T's top athletes for this year’s North American and Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championship next month at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, showed that they were in great shape after they copped the men’s and women’s titles respectively at the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) 10K and Teacher’s One Lap.
The event was held at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Saturday and Stapleton had to fight off a determined challenge from compatriot Shirvan Baboolal in a driving finish to this year's event which started at the White House and ended opposite Queen’s Royal College.
Stapleton crossed the line in 34 minutes and 37 seconds with Baboolal, two seconds slower in 34.39. Third-placed Anthony Phillip registered the time of 35.05 with last year's champion Kelvin Johnson back in fourth in a time of 35.11 and Shurlun Williams (35.13) rounded off the top five.
Stapleton, who sprinted hard in the final 150 metres was not happy with the time of this win. He wanted to complete the course in 32 minutes.
“I am not so glad about it because my time was off. I just was not feeling up to it today (Saturday). I am not feeling well,” Stapleton said. “The race had a lot of quality runners. It had good competitors – Shirvan Baboolal my rival from day one. Anthony Phillip and Kelvin Johnson are good athletes also.”
With last year’s winner Tonya Nero absent from the event, Shukla continued her dominance of local women’s 10K running with a 38.51 victory over Cecilia Mobuchon (39.27) of St Martin while Sjaelan Evans (46.59) passed the line in third. Chantel Le Maitre was fourth with a 47.49 timing.
When Shukla finished the event, she had some time to recuperate before the second placed runner came in.
She said, “I am anticipating a good 2019, I feel very pleased and excited about 2019. Obviously, it is the beginning of the year but all glory to God. I came here to have an easy but strong workout today (Saturday) and then I saw we had international competition.”
On her upcoming events, Shukla said, “I have NACAC Cross Country in February and then after that, I am going to focus on 5,000m track.”
In the one-lap event, Cy Sarjeant who won the event last year, completed the double with an outstanding display, coming home way ahead of second-placed athlete Kevon Michell with young Ryan Joseph back in third in the men's category. Sarjeant registered the time of 13.32 for the one-lap event with Mitchell recording the time of 13.57 and Joseph came home in 14.30.
Woodbrook Secondary School teacher Juliet John-Sambrano was the top finisher in the women’s category with a 17.03-clocking. John-Sambrano finished on top of the podium ahead of Shanti Sooklal-Singh (20.02) and Delesse Francis (21.13) among the women.
Top 5 male 10K
1 Sherwyn Stapleton - 34.37
2 Shirvan Baboolal - 34.39
3 Anthony Phillip - 35.05
4 Kelvin Johnson - 35.11
5 Shurlun Williams - 35.13
Top 5 female 10K
1 Samantha Shukla - 38.51
2 Cecilia Mobuchon - 39.27
3 Sjaelan Evans - 46.59
4 Chantel Le Maitre - 47.49
5 Teresa Otero - 48.41
Top 5 male 1 Lap
Cy Sarjeant - 13.32
Kevon Mitchell - 13.57
Ryan Joseph - 14.30
Akeel Henry - 15.27
Khallid Pille - 15.40
Top 3 female 1 Lap
Juliet John-Sambrano - 17.03
Shanti sookian-Singh - 20.02
Delesse Francais - 21.13