media_artricles :: 2015

Kenyan cashes in on Bankers half marathon

Foreigners dominated the inaugural Bankers Insurance half marathon held yesterday in Central Trinidad. Taking the men’s title was Kenyan Kenneth Rotich, while the female category went to Mirena Goncalves of Venezuela. A total of 479 runners took to the road at Atlantic Plaza in Point Lisas at 5.30am and after one hour, six minutes and 58 seconds, Rotich touched the winning tape. He was followed by Jamaican Rupert Green three minutes, 54 seconds later. In third spot was Cuban Livan Reyes, while Alexis Pena of Venezuela was next in line.

Michael Biscette of St. Lucia ran in fifth and Guyanese Kelvin Johnson came in sixth. The anxious crowd was looking for the arrival of red, white and black on the country’s 53rd anniversary of Independence and it came in the form of Richard Jones who came in seventh in one hour. 13 minutes, 53 seconds.

While the crowd was applauding him, they kept up their effort, as another local Curtis Cox immediately followed in one hour, 15 minutes and 51 seconds.

On the women’s side the story was a little better for T&T, as Tonya Nero placed second. The pint sized Nero was however one minute, 43 seconds slower than the eventual winner Mirena Goncalves out of Venezuela. She finished the course in one hour 21 minutes and 15 seconds. Tied for third were the Guadeloupe twins Christina Laurent and Christelle Laurent who made the journey in one hour, 34 minutes, 21 seconds.

T&T had seven finishes in the top ten of the ladies category. Both the men and women winners were awarded the same cash prize of $12,000. At the end of the event Bankers hosted all who attended to many treats including massages. The T&T cheerleading team was also on hand to perform for the crowd.

Results

Men
Kenneth Rotich (Kenya) - 1.06.58
Rupert Green (Jamaica) - 1.10.04
Livan Reyes (Cuba) - 1.11.24
Alexis Pena (Venezuela) - 1.12.29
Michael Biscette (St. Lucia) - 1.13.53
Kelvin Johnson (Guyana) - 1.15.37
Richard Jones (T&T) - 1.15.46
Curtis Cox (T&T) - 1.15.51
Jules La Rode (T&T) - 1.16.51
Shirvan Baboolal (T&T) - 1.17.28

Women
Mirena Goncalves (Venezuela) - 1.21.15
Tonya Nero (T&T) - 1.22.58
Christina Laurent (Guadeloupe) - 1.34.21
Christelle Laurent (Guadeloupe) - 1.34.21
Celine Lestrade (T&T) - 1.36.37
Christine Regis (T&T) - 1.40.26
Jenna Ross (T&T) - 1.42.55
Lorca-Gatcliff-Farah (T&T) - 1.47.04
Zara Suite (T&T) - 1.47.05
April Francis (T&T)- 1.47.27

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