Muriuki wins inaugural UWI half marathon

KENYAN John Murieti Muriuki crossed the line in a time of 1:09:41 to win the inaugural University of the West Indies, Sports and Physical Centre International Half-Marathon yesterday. Watched by an enthusiastic early Sunday morning crowd, the Kenyan runner run on resolutely to capture the winner’s prize of (US$2,000) TT$12,600 from UWI. And Ukranian runner Friray Sultanova-Shdanova smashed the women best time in landing the UWI US$2,000 winner’s purse and the $US$1,000 incentive for her feat.

Bahamas 400 metres relay Olympic gold medallist Pauline Davis started the race at the front of the state of the art facility.  The event also finished where it started. From the start, the race which proceeded along a closed Priority Bus Route course to D’Abadie, the Kenyan runner lurked behind leader Jules La Rode as part of a chasing pack which included St Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) Pamenos Ballantyne, and Trinidadians Curtis Cox and prodigal son Ronnie Holassie. The pack was not content to just chase, and swallowed up La Rode about half hour into the race, at which point Friray Sultanova-Zhdanova of Russia was a clear leader among the women, with compatriot Tatyana Pozdynakova within striking distance.

Two years ago Muriuki beat Ballantyne into second place in the CLICO Marathon and so began their rivalry. This time Muriuki capitalised on a break in his adversary’s concentration, before pulling away to finish over two minutes ahead of the Caribbean champion long-distance runner who completed the 13.1 mile course in 1:11.18 and had to settle for third place and $5,040. Cox kept pace with Ballantyne most of the way, and went past him a stone’s throw from the university’s Sir Frank Worrell Field where he trains, to take the runner-up spot in a time of 1:10.45 and the Raw Advertising $6,300 prize. Richard Jones was fourth in 1:13.28 for the Republic Bank (UWI) $3,150 prize and Holassie, who complained about the unbearably humid conditions, finished fifth in 1:15.50 and will collect $1,890 donated by Rennie’s Catering.

The Russians completed a one-two when Sultanova-Zhdanova finished in a blazing time of 1:17.24, claiming the incentive prize for destroying 1:25.00 previous best time.  Pozdynakova who was second also beat the previous record, finishing  in 1:22.15 and received the US$1,000 prize donated by Nestle. The rising 15-year-old Trinidad and Tobago long-distance star Tonya Nero was a very creditable third in 1:39.51 and will get the Sports & Games $5,040 prize, while veteran Solange Griffith was fourth in 1:40.59 and get the National Gas Company’s $3,150 cheque and Janelle Smith fifth in 1:46.42 to take the Building Maintenance prize of $1,890. After the race Holassie said he was contended with his finish especially after an 8-9 month competitive absence, and congratulated Muriuki on his performance.

Muriuki acknowledged that the humidity was a factor which slowed him down a bit, eliminating the possibility of an ideal 65 minute race. The Kenyan, who alluded to his ability to turn on the pace earlier in the week, said that the race was not too difficult and his task was made easier by Ballantyne’s seeming inability to go the distance halfway to the finish. Speaking through Pozdynakova, women’s winner Sultanova-Zhdanova said she was happy to have won the race, the second placed Russian revealed that she had to run slower than her countrywoman who was attacking the course record, deciding instead to pace herself while keeping close to the first placed woman.

The race was the perfect familiarisation between Trinidad and Tobago and the University’s Sport and Physical Centre,. Aided by a team of volunteers and professional race facilitators, the event lived up to its buzz and looks poised to become one of the region’s premier road racing events, with plans for it to become more of a festival beginning on a new Mondo track to be laid on the Sir Frank Worrell Field. The University of the West Indies should be commended for their show of efficiency and professionalism in hosting the event which must be held up as a model for all other sporting events to follow. Age group and other winners will receive their slice of the $100,000 prize structure at a special prize distribution ceremony to be hosted by the university on November 22.

Here are yeaterday’s results (top five): Men: 1. John Muriuki (Kenya) 1:09.41, 2. Curtis Cox (Trinidad and Tobago) 1;10.45, 3. Pamenos Ballantyne (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) 1:11.18, 4. Richard Jones (Trinidad and Tobago) 1:13.28, 5. Ronnie Holassie (Trinidad and Tobago) 1:15.50.
Women: 1. Firaya Sultanova-Zyhdanova (Ukraine) 1:17.24, 2. Tatyana Pozdynakova (Ukraine) 1:22.15, 3. Tonya Nero (Trinidad and Tobago) 1:39.51, 4. Solange Griffith (Trinidad and Tobago) 1:40.59, 5. Janelle Smith (Trinidad and Tobago) 1:46.42.