Seasoned distance runner Curtis Cox was again in impressive form capturing the runner up spot in the 28th Annual Run Barbados Marathon in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday.The veteran local runner clocked two hours 44 minutes and 12 seconds to register his fourth consecutive top five finish in the prestigious Run Barbados Series which attracted runners from all over the world. Cox was denied victory by Kenya's Richard Kessio, who won in 2:36:58 to capture his second straight Bajan title. Kessio has a rewarding week taking the 10K on Saturday. Pamenos Ballantyne was third.Arjen Reijnierse (17th), Ramesh Kassie (20th), Jonannes Van Iersel (24th), John Lum Young (28th) and Bhardoe Kanhai (43rd) were the other men's T&T finishers in the 26.2 mile run.
Cox improved on his fourth place finish last year and 2009 and extend his top three placing in his recent races. The 43-year- old was third in the NAAA Cross Country Championships on November 27th and also at the South American 10K run in Guyana on November 20th.Wendy Shallow was the top local women's marathoner taking fifth place in (3:52:49). Leah Kigen (Kenya) grabbed the top spot in 3:04:47 ahead of another Kenyan Judy Kimuge (3:12:06) as the duo finished fifth and sixth overall. American Alexa Dickerson and Areita Martin (Jamaica) all got to the line ahead of Shallow.In the 10K run, contested on Saturday, TT women filled five of the ten top positions among Caribbean athletes with Sophia Pereira leading the way in third (41:41). Young Zara Suite-Stewart was fifth (47.14) ahead of Debra Agong, sixth, (50:15), Susannah Joefield, eighth, (52:50) and Teresa Rosemond ninth (54:24).
Guyana's Alika Morgan was the winner in 40:07 ahead of Areita Martin of Jamaica, (41:03). In the men's equivalent Nelinho Mierez was the first TT runner to cross the line finished eighth (37:47) with Michael Pollipor in tenth. Jamaican Shawn Pitter captured the race (31:31) beating the Guyanese pair of Cleveland Forde (32:47) and Kelvin Johnson (33:25) into the minor spots.Mierez (18th) and Pollipor (20th) were the top local finishers in the half marathon on Sunday.
RESULTS
MARATHON
Men (Open)
1 Richard Kessio Kenya 2:36;58
2 Curtis Cox Trinidad and Tobago 2:44:12
3 Pamenos Ballantyne St. Vincent & Grenadines 2:45:52
17 Arje Reijnierse Trinidad and Tobago 5:58:59
24 Johannes Van Iersel Trinidad and Tobago 4:19:59
28 John Lum Young Trinidad and Tobago 4:33:10
43 Bhardoe Kanhai Trinidad and Tobago 5:24:44
Women (Open)
1 Leah Kigen Kenya 3:04:47
2 Judy Kimuge Kenya 3:12:06
3 Alexa Dickerson USA 3:42:09
4 Arieta Martin Jamaica 3:52:48
5 Wendy Shallow Trinidad and Tobago 3:58:49
10K
Women (Caribbean)
1 Alika Morgan Guyana 40:07
2 Areita Martin Jamaica 41:03
3 Sophia Pereira Trinidad and Tobago 41:41
5 Zara Suite-Stewart Trinidad and Tobago 47:14
6 Debra Agong Trinidad and Tobago 50:15
8 Susannah Joefield Trinidad and Tobago 52:50
9 Teresa Rosemond Trinidad and Tobago 54:24
Men (Caribbean)
1 Shawn Pitter Jamaica 31:31
2 Cleveland Forde Guyana 32:47
3 Kelvin Johnson Guyana 33:25
8 Nelinho Mierez Trinidad and Tobago 37:47
10 Michael Pollipor Trinidad and Tobago 39:41
15 Nimchan Ramsaroop Trinidad and Tobago 46:05
17 Alexei Viarruel Trinidad and Tobago 47:36
18 Trevor Benjamin Trinidad and Tobago 48:04