Big chip off UWI Half-Marathon’s time

Big chip off UWI Half-Marathon’s time

With hands in the air, winner JOHN MURIETHI of Kenya touches the finish line.

THE University of the West Indies (UWI)/SPEC International Half-Marathon, proudly dubbed the first of its kind in the region attracted 573 local, regional and international runners last Sunday in St. Augustine.

The second annual 13.1-mile race was a marked improvement on the inaugural event of 2004 in many respects, most notably the expansion of the competitive field by 173 runners.

Even the race time was improved upon (by some two minutes and 19 seconds).

There was also more corporate and spectator support.

But some things remained unchanged, like the winners of the men’s and women titles.

Kenyan John Muriuki was the overall winner, as he had been in 2004, but this time in a new clocking of one hour, seven minutes and 26 seconds.

UWI Half-Marathon - 02

Ukrainian FIRAYA SULTANOVA
retained her title
as best female
marathoner over
the distance.

UWI Half-Marathon - 05

RONNIE HOLASSIE
runs in a disappoint-
ing fourth place.

ANAND SINGH who collapsed
and died after completing
marathon is seen here (left)
making final strides. LYNETTE
“Granny” LUCES is ahead.

He beat into second place St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ multiple winner of the TnT Marathon, Pamenos Ballantyne.

Venezuela’s Jefferson Rivas was third in one hour, eight minutes and 53 seconds, while third was TnT’s Olympic marathoner Ronnie Holassie in 1:09.59.

Ukraine’s Firaya Sultanova again won the women’s title in 1:16.09, in a foreign sweep with Russia’s Tatyaka Pozdynakova (1:16.09) and Venezuela’s Nfida Marcano (1:26.30).

The 13.1 mile race was hosted by the University of The West Indies, Sport & Physical Education Centre and is the only locally-hosted road race on the calendar of the Association of International Marathons and Road Races.

Organisers have extended their condolences to the family of Anand Singh who collapsed and died from a suspect heart attack.

UWI Half-Marathon - 06

Litter strewn at the water stop.

UWI Half-Marathon - 07

Hockey star MARY SIU BUTT joins
friends in a drumming session.

Singh is seen here in one of these TYRONE CHANG photos chipping in behind famous local runner Lynette “Granny” Luces sometime earlier.

He is the second local road runner to die in a distance race this year.

Stephen Seenath, 56, collapsed during the Oilfield Workers Trade Union’s (UWTU) 20k race in Oropouche on Labour Day.

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