media_artricles :: 2016

$50,000 Finn challenge at UWI Half-Marathon

Trinidad and Tobago distance runners will have an added incentive at tomorrow's First Citizens UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon.

In addition to the prizes on offer for the top finishers, locals will have the opportunity to bag TT$50,000. Leading Finnish information technology (IT) company, Mexadia, has offered the cash award to any runner who establishes a new national senior half-marathon record. Ronnie Holassie is listed as the men's record holder at one hour, four minutes, 15 seconds, while the women's standard, 1:15:13, was established by Tonya Nero.

But the Mexadia $50,000 challenge will not end at the UWI Half-Marathon. Speaking on behalf of Mexadia, sextuple national record holder Sheldon Monderoy told the Express, yesterday, that the company will reward any athlete who breaks a national senior middle or long distance record.

"Mexadia will pay $50,000 for any Trinidad and Tobago senior record in the traditional events, from 800 metres to the marathon, on a certified course or on a certified track."

The late withdrawal of the reigning women's champion, Kenyan Caroline Kiptoo, has opened the door for Nero to capture her third UWI Half-Marathon women's title. The toughest challenge for the 2012/2013 winner is likely to come from Venezuela's Yeisy Alvarez. But with $50,000 on the line, the clock is likely to be more of a focus for Nero.

Holassie's 1:04:15 T&T standard looks to be out of the reach of the top local men listed to compete tomorrow. Curtis Cox, Matthew Hagley, Collin Pereira, Elvis Turner and Kade Sobers are among the male T&T entrants in the field of 1,300. Guyana will be represented by Kelvin Johnson and Lionel Dandrade, while Rupert Green flies the Jamaica flag.

Cuban Richer Perez is back to defend his UWI Half-Marathon men's title. He will be challenged by Kenyans Fabian Leting, Peter Lamayan Nkaya and Hillary Kiptanui, as well as Venezuela's Alexis Peña.

The male and female champions will each receive US$2,500. There are also US$1,000 course record bonuses on offer. Kenyan Ernest Kimeli set the 1:05:07 men's record in 2006. His compatriot, Jemima Sumgong, meanwhile, established the 1:12:08 women's standard, also in 2006.

The top local finisher in the men's race will get a Caribbean Airlines ticket to Jamaica for the December 3 Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica. The top T&T woman will also make the trip to the northern Caribbean island.

Nero looks a likely winner of the Reggae Marathon ticket. If she can bring her "A" game to UWI SPEC, St Augustine, tomorrow, for the 5.30 a.m. race, the talented distance runner will also get a timely financial boost as she continues preparations for her 2017 IAAF World Championship women's marathon qualifying bid.

Monderoy, who is Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and part-owner of Mexadia, explained the rationale behind his company's $50,000 challenge.

"When I was an athlete, support was very hard to come by. Sixteen years later, it seems to be the same. I wanted to take a leading role in implementing something like this. We want to create incentives for middle and long distance runners."

Mexadia is hoping to set up a sports database here in T&T. Monderoy is convinced the database would revolutionise the local sports industry and set the stage for development in other sectors.

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