media_artricles :: 2017

Drakes, Scott unbeaten in Carifin series

ArticAFTER winning last week's Chancellor Challenge, Republic Bank employee Jean-Paul Drakes and Central Bank's Salina Scott will be the prohibitive favourites to claim the overall men's and women's running titles when the 26th-annual Carifin Games conclude at month's end in Caroni.

Their victories on Wednesday left both Drakes and Scott unbeaten after three of the four events in the competitive element of the annual fitness series for employees in the country's financial sector.

The cross-country run on the Sevilla Golf Course at Brechin Castle, Caroni on May 28 will bring the curtain down on the 2017 edition of the Games.

Over 400 participants, representing 10 financial institutions, contested the Chancellor Challenge. Those in the men's running category who were hoping to cut into Drakes' overall lead were left disappointed as the security officer completed his third successive win, charging up the Lady Chancellor Hill in St. Ann's in 13 minutes, 57 seconds to be crowned "King of the Hill."

Drakes' main rival and fellow Republic Bank employee Abijah Phillip, 2nd in the first two events, was unable to make it on Wednesday and Guardian Life's Kris Deonanan (14.57) cashed in, moving up one spot into second; that allowed Unit Trust Corporation's Kelvin Blackburn to fill third spot after posting 16.54.

Central Bank's (CBTT) Salina Scott claimed the "Queen of the Hill" title, clocking 17.36 to finish fifth overall. Speaking afterward, Scott threw down a challenge to her female rivals for next year's Games.

"I love running hills, so even though it was hard I still enjoy the hill more," said Scott. "I am hoping to maintain my dominance next year, so everybody come and train, come for meh!" she said.

Second among the women was Christine Regis of ANSA Financial Services (18.26) while Scott's CBTT teammate Lorianne Ayoung-Chee was third in 20.03, displacing yet another CBTT runner, Chelsea-Anne Phillip, who was second in both the One Lap Savannah and the Green Mile.

Guardian Group and Republic Bank employees dominated the walking category. Guardian's Atiba King was first across the line in the men's event in 24 minutes, 41 seconds and his teammate Andrew Mc Carthy was fourth in 25.43.

"It was a bit exhausting, the guy who came 2nd (Gian Corbie) passed me and I had to put in a lot of work to pass him," said King. "This race was a lot different since I injured my foot, I didn't do any incline, so this is more challenging."

Corbie (24.46) was second among the men while was his Republic Bank teammate Tessa Weekes crested the hill in 25.07, finishing third overall and remaining unbeaten among the women.

"I am the 1st female in all the Urban Challenge Events, so task accomplished!" a triumphant Weekes said.

Guardian Group's Anatascia Logie (26.38) and Republic's Michelle Redon-Girod (26.56) repeated their Green Mile efforts by taking second and third, respectively.

The runners and walkers will have three weeks to recover and prepare before the showdown at Caroni, where the overall male and female Champions in both the running and walking series will be decided and the overall winning team will be awarded the prestigious Champions trophy.leText

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