分类： sports

The 2025 UWI International Half Marathon, held on October 26 in St. Augustine, witnessed remarkable performances from distance runners Alex Ekesa and Aniqah Bailey, who clinched the overall men’s and women’s titles, respectively. Ekesa, representing the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners Club, secured his first-ever UWI Half-Marathon victory with an impressive time of 1:08.33 over the 21.1-kilometer course. Bailey, from Pace and Performance Factory, crossed the finish line in 1:30.36, marking a significant improvement from her fourth-place finish in 2024. Both athletes showcased their dedication by surpassing their previous year’s performances. In the men’s division, Tafari Waldron of UTT Patriots claimed second place with a time of 1:08.58, while Nicholas Romany of TTRRC secured third in 1:11.06. The women’s category saw Alexia John of Pacelink Elite finish second in 1:33.09, followed by Samantha Shukla of TTRRC in third with 1:33.33. The event also highlighted team achievements, with Ekesa, Romany, and Donnell Francis leading TTRRC to the overall team prize. Additionally, the 5K race featured standout performances from unattached runners Kerry McLaren, Zidan Hamid, and Triston Bessor in the men’s category, while Praveen Ramdeo, Reeta Mathai, and Ziya Hosein Livingstone dominated the women’s division. The marathon underscored the growing talent and competitive spirit in long-distance running.

In a decisive outcome at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) annual general meeting (AGM) held on October 25 at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, Stephen Ramkissoon successfully retained his position as treasurer. Ramkissoon, who assumed the role earlier this year following the removal of his predecessor Kiswah Chaitoo, secured a 29-12 victory over Central Sports owner Richard Ramkissoon. The AGM also saw Kerwin John, head of the Tobago Cricket Association, re-elected as second vice-president with a 27-13 win over Rajendra Mangalie. Avinash Suruj of Central Zone was elected third vice-president, defeating Parasram Singh 29-12. Five new members—Ravi Teeluck, Anand Rampersad, Ann Brown John, Frank Simmons, and Mitra Ragoonanan—joined the executive with membership status, while Sharaz Mohammed fell short with only ten votes. Azim Bassarath, TTCB president since 2009, retained his position uncontested, marking his sixth consecutive term. However, due to recent amendments limiting presidents to two successive four-year terms, this is likely his final term. Altaf Baksh and Henry Chase were also elected unopposed as first vice-president and general secretary, respectively. Ammar Samaroo, TTCB elections committee secretary, confirmed the voting process was seamless, with no issues reported.

The West Indies cricket team secured a commanding 1-0 lead in their three-match T20 series against Bangladesh with a hard-fought 16-run victory in the opening game on October 27 in Chattogram. Opting to bat first, the West Indies openers, Alick Athanaze and Brandon King, laid a solid foundation with a 59-run partnership. However, their progress was cautious, with boundaries proving elusive. Athanaze departed for 34 off 27 balls, followed by King for 33 off 36 deliveries, leaving the team at 82/3 by the 13th over. Captain Shai Hope and former skipper Rovman Powell then took charge, accelerating the innings with a flurry of boundaries. Their unbeaten partnership of 83 runs propelled the West Indies to a competitive total of 165/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Hope finished with 46 not out, while Powell remained unbeaten on 44. Taskin Ahmed was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, claiming 2/36. In reply, Bangladesh started aggressively but lost early wickets, including Tanzid Hasan and captain Litton Das. Despite a valiant effort from Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who scored 33 off 27 balls, Bangladesh faltered, bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs. The West Indies’ bowling attack, led by Jason Holder (3/31) and Jayden Seales (3/32), proved decisive. Akeal Hosein also contributed with 2/22. The second match of the series is scheduled for October 29.

Seasoned runner April Francis clinched her fifth Scotiabank Women Against Breast Cancer 5K title on October 25, but it was her act of generosity after the race that captured hearts. After crossing the finish line with a winning time of 22 minutes and 37.41 seconds, Francis handed her trophy to nine-year-old Adrianna Garcia, a young runner who had been leading the race but was forced to slow down due to an injury. Competing under her sponsorship team Extra Mile, Francis navigated the course around Queen’s Park Savannah in St Clair with determination. Reflecting on her decision, Francis shared that she and Garcia had shared an emotional moment during the race. ‘I saw Adrianna, who I’m familiar with, under a lot of pressure and in pain. I decided to stick with her, motivate her, and pull her along,’ Francis explained. Despite Garcia’s setback, Francis felt the young runner deserved recognition for her effort and perseverance. ‘I wasn’t really thinking about myself; I was more thinking about her. She was fighting really hard for it, and I felt like she deserved it,’ Francis added. Garcia, competing in the one to 19 age group, was later adjudged the overall winner in her category with a time of 24:43.40. Francis’s gesture resonated deeply with onlookers, embodying the spirit of the event. The race also saw Raheem Modeste as the first male finisher in 18:23.91, marking the third consecutive year men were allowed to participate. Other notable winners included Britney Choon-Ramsoondar (20-29), Alissa Ali (30-39), Claire Fortune (40-49), Kim Gomez (50-59), and Christine Regis (60+). The event, celebrating its 25th anniversary, was hailed by Scotiabank’s managing director Gayle Pazos as a testament to the courage of breast cancer survivors and the collective effort to combat the disease.

The 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) First Citizens Boys’ ‘Big 5’ tournament has reached a pivotal stage with the confirmation of the five teams competing for promotion to the premier division. Palo Seco Secondary emerged victorious in the south championship division, securing their win with 22 points, just two points ahead of Pleasantville Secondary. The top four teams in this fiercely competitive zone were separated by a mere seven points, highlighting the intensity of the matches. Palo Seco’s final zonal match against Point Fortin East Secondary ended in a 1-1 draw at the Guapo Recreation Ground on October 24, a rescheduled fixture after their previous encounter was abandoned due to a bee invasion. Earlier, Palo Seco was awarded three points for an abandoned match against Rio Cloo West Secondary on September 26, following a ruling on October 22 that found Rio Claro West guilty of fielding an underprepared pitch. Similarly, Chaguanas North Secondary faced a setback when their match against Presentation College Chaguanas was abandoned due to unsuitable field markings, resulting in a 3-0 win for Presentation College. Joining Palo Seco and Presentation Chaguanas in the ‘Big 5’ tournament are Hillview College (east), Mucurapo West Secondary (north), and Speyside Secondary (Tobago). The tournament kicks off on October 29, with Mucurapo West hosting Hillview and Palo Seco facing Speyside, while Presentation College enjoys a bye on the first match day. The top three teams from the ‘Big 5’ will secure their spots in the Premier Division for the 2026 season.