Guyanese athlete Kelvin Johnson on Sunday captured the Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM) 40th edition title in Chaguaramas.
Running four laps of the bicycle path, Johnson completed the 26.2-mile race in two hours, 55 minutes, 33 seconds. The Guyanese earned TT$7,500 for his early morning run on the western peninsula.
Elvis Turner clocked 2:58:58s to finish second in the men’s race, with third spot going to 2005 champion Curtis Cox in 3:25:22. Anand Baal (3:35:45) and Narvin Beharry (3:36:00) were fourth and fifth respectively.
Shardie Mahabir was impressive in the women’s race, crossing the finish line in 3:38:51s to claim the TT$7,500 top prize. Tenth in 2020 in 4:06:57s, Mahabir showcased the results of two years of hard work, improving her time by more than 28 minutes in spite of all the challenges that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chantel Le Maitre produced a strong challenge, but had to settle for the runner-up spot in 3:40:00s. Alana Lee Wo finished third in 4:16:47s, getting home ahead of Leigh-Ann Benjamin-Campbell (4:17:15s) and Corene Procope (4:20:06s).
Thomas Sealy and Dr. Gordon Naraynsingh competed in the very first T&T Marathon, in 1983. They were both in Chaguaramas on Sunday, clocking 4:29:44s and 4:33:27s respectively in the 40th edition event. Running in his 130th 26.2-mile race, Polish marathon globetrotter Ryschard Ellert returned a time of 4:59:36s. Ellert has now competed in marathons in 99 countries.
The race, staged in honour of the late sport broadcaster Anthony Harford, was the first T&T Marathon on the Chaguaramas bicycle path.
“It was definitely a success,” TTIM chairperson Diane Henderson told the Express. “We had three or four people at water stops, as opposed to over 200, so it was manageable and controlled.
“Within a minute of the start,” Henderson continued, “the field was totally spread out, almost in the order they eventually finished.” (Trinidad Express)
