media_artricles :: 2017

Chepses to defend T&T Marathon title

Last year's winner Mark Chepses of Kenya will head a strong field for the 2017 Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM).

This event is in its 35th consecutive year, easily the longest running Marathon in the Caribbean.

Chepses will face strong opposition from two other Kenyans, Stanley Sang and Erick Kiprono, with the local competition being headed by the evergreen Curtis Cox, winner in 2005 and the Trinidad and Tobago Male Road Runner of the Year for 2016. Another local to watch will be the up and coming youth Kieve "Magicman" Gibson with Joe Church of Pennsylvania, USA an intriguing entrant.

Last year's female champion Leah Kigen and the 2015 winner Truphena Busieni have both entered the 2017 edition. However, they will face a challenge from T&T star Tonya Nero who stormed past two Canadians in the finishing straight to win the Half Marathon at the Run Barbados event last month. Christine Regis, the leading local female in the 2015 and 2016 marathons will also face the starter with Karen Samuel of Great Britain and Sidy Diallo of France two other ladies to watch.

Entries from the Caribbean include runners from St Lucia and St Eustatius in the 5K, with Winsbert Sylvester of St Lucia also tackling the marathon.

Brian Lewis, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee will once again be at St Mary's Junction to start at 3.30 am with his team #10Golds24. This team always contains several celebrities from Trinidad and Tobago's sporting administrators.

Last year Her Excellency Reema Carmona, wife of the president led the relay team from President's House and she will be competing again this year. This relay will once again feature a mixture of serious runners' teams and fun/fitness sides.

The Marathon Village at the finish line will come to life on January 29, while the race starts at St Mary's Junction in Freeport and ends at the Queen's Park Savannah. Start time will be 5.00 am with slow runners and walkers beginning at 3.30 am. Following the successful hosting of the Marathon Relay in 2016, over 35 teams have already signed up to complete the 2017 Relay over the same Marathon course. The TTIM weekend will race off on January 28 with the 5K at the Queen's Park Savannah at 4.00pm with Mayor of Port of Spain Joel Martinez starting the race.

Online registration for the events is open until January 21 at ttmarathon.com.

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