media_artricles :: 2014

Cox wins in Arima

... livid over Rio Claro disqualification

Curtis Cox won for the fourth time on the trot in the Arima Green Mountain 24-mile road race, last Wednesday.

Cox completed the course, from Blanchisseuse to Arima, in two hours, 49 minutes, 54 seconds--a new course record. The 2005 Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon champion dominated his rivals, finishing more than 14 minutes ahead of second-placed Curtis Demol (3:04:15). Third spot went to Cantius Thomas (3:08:35).

Christine Regis was first among the women, getting home in a course record time of 3:51:43 to retain her title. Wendy Shallow (4:16:45) and Rosamund Johhy (4:22:08) finished second and third, respectively.

A five-mile race was also contested, George Smith emerging victorious in 27 minutes, one second. Christian Benn secured the runner-up spot in 27:06, forcing Quincy Elliot (28:03) to settle for third.

Tonya Nero earned the women’s five-mile title, the queen of T&T road running beating Samantha Shukla into second spot. Jenelle Nedd was third.

On September 1, Cox competed in the Rio Claro Centenary Marathon, crossing the finish line third in the 15-mile race. Guyanese runners, Kelvin Johnson and Lionel Dandrade were first and second, respectively. Nero, meanwhile, won the women’s race, from Shukla and Regis.

“The event,” Cox explained, “was staged to mark the 100th anniversary of the last train from Tabaquite to Rio Claro.”

But the Rio Claro Centenary Marathon took a controversial turn with rumours that participants had cheated by taking drops with vehicles during the race. Cox was named on social media as one of the athletes who had taken a ride. But the veteran road runner denied the claim, contacting the Express in an effort to have his name cleared.

“The person who put it on Facebook said she heard an official say that I took a ride. I told her she can’t tarnish my name like that. I’ve run over 30 marathons. After running so many 26-mile events, why would I take a ride in a race like this?

“To date,” Cox continued, “I have not received my $1,000 third prize.”

It seems as though Cox will not be receiving any prizes. He was disqualified, and Jules La Rode was promoted to third.

Chairman of the Rio Claro Centenary Committee, Dawad Philip explained the decision.

“Cox could not be accounted for, for a particular part of that race. We could only go with what was brought to the committee by volunteers on the course and cyclists who followed the course.”

Minister of Community Development, Winston “Gypsy” Peters was among the cyclists who gave evidence.

“We disqualified about seven people,” Philip told the Express. “Cox was the most prominent name we had to address. The circumstances and evidence that came before us seem to support (that he took a drop). No runner has come forward to say ‘I ran with this man and he ran the whole race’.”

The Rio Claro Centenary Committee did not call on Cox or any of the accused athletes to defend themselves. Philip, however, said the decision to disqualify the veteran road runner will be revisited.

“But he has to bring evidence that he finished the race.”

Cox was livid on hearing of his disqualification.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he declared. “What did they disqualify me for? I’m going to get a lawyer because they’re tarnishing my name. I ran the whole race.”

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