media_artricles :: 2016

UWI SPEC Half-Marathon on October 23

ON SUNDAY October 23 at the sound of the starters' pistol, 1,300 runners are expected to set off on the 13.1 mile journey for the 13th edition of The University of the West Indies' Sports and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) International Half-Marathon.

Online registration is underway and will continue until October 7.

As is tradition, on-the-spot registration can also be done at the following First Citizens branches: Scarborough, West Court, Independence Square, Arima, Chaguanas and San Fernando.

UWI SPEC and Race Director, Major David Benjamin indicated that this year's race will invite 1,300 participants, with 100 spaces reserved for students from 13 Secondary Schools along the East- West corridor to participate. "We hope to increase the pool of young athletes between the ages of 15 to 19 participating in our event and we think this gesture will contribute to building new runners and increase the youth participation in the half-marathon," he expressed.

First Citizens is once again the presenting sponsor for the international half-marathon, a partnership that has been in place since the inception of the event. Jason Julien, Deputy CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Business Generation at First Citizens, said the financial institution is pleased to once again be the main sponsor and indicated that for them, it is an important initiative.

"For us the UWI/SPEC International Half-Marathon is not just an event on the calendar, but something we believe in investing in, as part of our efforts to encourage everyone in our community, the nation as a whole and the Caribbean to take part and challenge themselves in a unique and special way," he said. The race is once again recognised and sanctioned by the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAA) and $150,000 in cash and gift prizes are up for grabs.

Additionally, this year will feature a challenge for local athletes as there will be incentive-based prizes for the first local Male athlete that breaks the one hour, 10 minutes mark and the first Female athlete that breaks the one hour, 17 minutes and 30 seconds barrier.

Last year's Top Five male and female champs are expected to defend their titles. This includes Richer Pérez Cobas (Cuba), Kenneth Rotich (Kenya), Kirk Brown (Jamaica), Pedro Espinoza-Perez (Mexico), Rupert Green (Jamaica), Caroline Kiptoo (Kenya), Tonya Nero (Trinidad), Yailen Garcia (Cuba), Celine Lestrade (Trinidad), April Francis (Trinidad). Participants of this year's race can also run for a cause, as the Half-Marathon will partner with the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT) to raise awareness and funds for the organisation.

Registration can be done online at www.sta.uwi.edu/spec/marathon/ register.php and registrants will require a credit card or international debit card to make registration payments online. If interested persons do not have either option, a race registration code can be purchased at the First Citizens branches listed above.

Package collection for participants will take place from October 5-18 at UWI SPEC from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 1 pm on weekends.

Additional race updates and announcements will be made over the next 13 days. For further queries, please contact UWI SPEC at 645-9239 or 662-2002 ext. 83771, 82660, 83556 or 83571; or e-mail specinfo@sta.uwi.edu.

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