Denzel Ramirez outclassed his rivals at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, yesterday, romping to victory in the National Cross Country Championship men's eight-kilometre event.
Ramirez was among the lead pack of four at the end of the opening lap. And by the halfway point of the four-lap race, he was in sole possession of the top spot, enjoying a 15-metre cushion on his closest rival.
Ramirez increased his lead in the second half of the race, his winning time of 24 minutes, 43 seconds—in overcast conditions, on a damp course—giving the unattached runner a comfortable victory, and another lien on the title he captured in 2010.
Matthew Hagley surrendered his crown. The Defence Force runner, however, proved to be the best of the rest on the day, clocking 24:53 to secure the runner-up spot, forcing Richard Jones to settle for third, in 25:05.
Ramirez was very satisfied with his winning effort.
"I felt great," he told the Express. "I was expecting some more competition from Matthew Hagley, Richard Jones, but I underestimated my ability. I'm very, very impressed with my time, and highly motivated."
Tonya Nero had things all her own way in the women's 6K. In fact, T&T's best ever female distance runner not only recorded a runaway victory in the women's race, but also held her own in the company of the boys' under-19 runners.
Nero got home in 20:10, and trailed just three of the teenage boys she squared off against in the three-lap race.
"I was happy to run with the boys," said Nero. "They really pulled me along, and it helped a lot.
"The course is perfect," she continued. "It wasn't too hard, and it wasn't soft. That's one of my fastest 6K times. I feel really great."
Dawnel Collymore was a very distant second, getting home in 24:01. Collymore, in turn, enjoyed a huge cushion on third-placed Paulette Luces (27:08).
Akeem Marshall made a successful defence of his boys' under-19 6K title, the Toco Titans runner turning on the heat in the third and final lap to win in 19:24.
Mark London trailed Marshall by just 20 metres at the end of the penultimate lap, but could not keep pace in lap three, finishing second in 19:39—some 80 metres behind the victorious Marshall. Jevon Joseph (19:53) secured third spot.
Donicia Antoine looked set to repeat as girls' under-19 4K champion. But with 250 metres to go, Domonique Williams surged past Antoine and pulled away, the Neon Trackers runner crossing the finish line in 15:48. Antoine was the runner-up in 16:00, well ahead of third-placed Mikayla Ottley (16:45).
Toco Titans runner, Renaldo Marshall produced a gutsy finish, battling past Atiba Samuel in the dying stages of the boys' under-15 2K to take the top prize in 6:08. Samuel clocked 6:09.
By Kwame Laurence
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com