media_artricles :: 2018

Shukla, Hagley crown NAAA champions

Samantha Shukla was overjoyed on Sunday after winning the women's title in the National Association of Athletics Administrations of T&T (NAAATT) half marathon championship, which was a feature of the UWI SPEC International Half Marathon.

Shukla crossed second in the women's category but was the first T&T woman to finish in a personal best (PB)time of one hour, 21 minutes and 56 seconds (1:21:56). T&T's Tonya Nero, the defending women's champion, did not compete. 

Following her achievement, Shukla posted on Facebook: "The UWI Half Marathon was much more than a competitive event for me yesterday (Sunday). This 13.1-mile race was dedicated to the life of my incredible cousin who passed away so suddenly in July. 

"It was such a privilege to have the support of his immediate family along the course. I was fuelled by their presence. The aim was to win but I'm thankful for the second place finish and my nine minutes improvement on my PB time. 

"Thank you to God, my spiritual and physical family and lastly friends who continue to support me in the ways I need it."

Second among the local women to finish was Celine Lestrade in a time of 1:32:40. 

Colombian Palmenia Raquel Agudelo Berrio was the overall women's champion stopping the clock at 1:20:35 in the 13.1 mile course which remaining unchanged, starting at UWI SPEC in St Augustine, continuing along the traffic-free Priority Bus Route (PBR) to the La Resource junction in D'Abadie, before doubling back to the UWI SPEC. 

Winning the men's national title was Matthew Hagley, who was third overall and the first local athlete to finish in 1:13:22. Finishing runner-up among the local men was Shirvan Baboolal in 1:13:39 while in third was Sherwyn Stapleton in 1:14:39. 

Venezuelan Didimo Armando Sanchez Mendoza was the overall and men's champion in 1:08:49

Top