media_artricles :: 2018

London just keep winning - Trinidad Guardian

Mark London's preparation for the upcoming track season has shaped up well, with him excelling in recent cross-country events on both islands.

On the weekend, he took the Open Men's 6k title at National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Tobago Cross Country run which he described as special.

"To get the win on home soil is always a special feeling to me," said London on winning in a time of 21 minutes and 48 seconds at the annual event which unfolded at the Mt Irvine Golf Course.

The Zenith Athletics Club runner beat defending champion Elvis Turner, who finished as the runner-up, crossing in 22.46 while Kedane O'Connor of the University of T&T (UTT) was third in 26.59.

"The last time I ran in the Tobago Cross Country Championships was in 2012 where I won the open Men 6k as well. Then in 2014 I went off to college (Coppin State University) in the US so it's a really satisfying feeling for me to be back in T&T competing consistently and healthy again," said London.

"I'm a middle distance runner ideally (800m), so cross country races always been a part of my base training leading up to the track season. And I've run races before with the defending champion in previous years so I know that he's capable of keeping up with a solid pace."

Last month, London, prevailed in the NAAA Savannah One Lap road race at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, winning in 11.29, to beat Matthew Hagley of Defence Force (11.31) into second with Kelvin Johnson (Unattached) in third in 11.38.

"Since I got back from school in June my fitness level been increasing rapidly again due to consistency in training. So the race was really comfortable for me from start to finish. And to get the win on home soil is always a special feeling to me," said a five-time Carifta Games track and field gold medallist.

"I'm glad that I'm able to show my dominance in events that I consider as preparation towards my actual (pet) events (1,500m and 800m) on the track. So with that being said, I'm exactly where I want to be thus far heading into 2019."

In the women's race, UTT's Janice Gooding won in 30.33 and placed seventh overall. Following her to the line was the defending champion Carissa Douglas Jacob (32.53) of Roxborough Secondary School (RSS) Phoenix and Dos Fit Studio's Evlyn Carrington (43.38) in second third positions, respectively.

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