media_artricles :: 2016

Nero set sights on World Athletic qualification

TRINIDAD AND Tobago's most decorated female long distance runner Tonya Nero has started her preparations to qualify for the World Athletic Championships held in London 2017.

Speaking after recording her fastest ever UWI Half Marathon clocking, the 27-year-old was quite pleased with her performances for the year thus far.

"Since I suffered the injury last year training was difficult at the beginning of the year but by the month of May I started to see improvements and I have been progressing ever since, " Nero said.

The national record holder in the Women`s 5000m, 10,000m, Half Marathon and Marathon has given herself six months to run the time to qualify her for her maiden world event.

"I`m targeting the Rotterdam Marathon in April next year and I'm on course so my hope is to stay healthy and injury free." The Maracas St. Joseph resident came close to qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics but missed out on qualifications by 14 seconds despite securing the national record of two hours, 43 minutes and 14 seconds. So, the Wichita State University graduate is hoping to make amends five years later.

There has been an incentive arranged by Finnish Information Technology Company Mexadia that will award $50,000 to any local athlete who improves the national record for middle distances ranging from the 800m event to the marathon.

The slim built runner said, "Yes of course I'm interested especially in the half marathon and marathon." Nero will be travelling to Guyana in the next two weeks to participate in the South American 10k race.

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