Omare Thompson of Diego Martin executed his race plan efficiently to take the T&T International Marathon (TTIM) 5K title on Saturday at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
The runner from the One-A-Week (OAW) multisport won in a time of 16 minutes and 31 seconds to comfortably claim the overall and men’s title among some 267 participants, who completed in the first event in the Marathon Festival Weekend.
Coincidentally, the top four runners across the line were from Diego Martin. Isaiah Alder of the Cougars track and field club crossed second with a 17.04 clocking. Close behind him in third place was Thompson’s clubmate Keiel Samuel (One a Week) in 17.27 and fourth was another Cougars athlete Christopher Samuel with an 18.07 timing.
David Schweitzer (CMA CGM) completed the top five overall list with 18.26.
Sarah Guillen (OAW) took the women’s title with a time of 23.43 and placed 15th overall. In a far-off second was Dana Taylor (NGC) with 25.39 to 20th overall and Sharda Beharry (Team Fun Runnerz) closely trailing in third place with 25.50, 21st overall.
Filling out the top five spots in the women’s category were Claire De Bourg (29.27) of Trincity and Arima’s Joy Francis (29.29) in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
All finishers received medals.
This morning, the feature event of the festival will unfold, the 42nd TTIM International Marathon, starting at 4.30 am.
Participants will take on a new flat and undulating course that will traverse approximately five communities towards the capital, finishing at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
The half marathon starts 30 minutes later in the event.
Top 10
Men/Overall
1 ↓Omare Thompson (One a Week) 16.31
2 Isaiah Alder (Cougars) 17.04
3 Keiel Samuel (One a week)17.27
4 Christopher Samuel (Cougars) 18.07
5 David Schweitzer (CMA CGM) 18.26
6 ↓Jaedan Richards (Collin Pereira Dis) 20.56
7 ↓Clinton Williams (Richard Jones Racing) 21.07
8 Kevon Waldron (Port of Spain) 22.12
9 ↓Jeremiah Armstrong (Run For Life Trini)22.15
10 Shiva Sarwan (TS Fitness) 22.29
Women
1 (15) Sarah Guillen (OAW) 23.43
2 (20) Dana Taylor (NGC) 25.39
3 (21) ↓Sharda Beharry (Team Fun Runnerz) 25.50
4 (45) ↓Claire De Bourg (Trincity) 29.27
5 (47) ↓Joy Francis (Arima) 29.29
6 (51) ↓Amariah Thompson (Run For life) 29.53
7 (58) ↓Amelia Duncan (Diego Martin) 30.47
8 (59) ↓Natasha Bhagwatsingh (Cunupia) 30.50
9 (62) Alicia Garcia-Pedro (RJR) 31.58
10 (67) Lindy Sylvester (Couva) 32.42