Golden holiday for Welsh runner at KISS 5K

JADE Williams did not only use her first trip to TT to get out of the cold but, upon her arrival in this country, she heard about the KISS 5K and decided to participate at the event at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, yesterday. The 5K was part of the 2019 TT International Marathon Festival that started on Friday.

Williams, a national Welsh champion, won the women’s category easily in 17 minutes and 36 minutes (17:36). Finishing second was national cyclist Christiane Farah in 22:30 and 13-year-old Sophie Potter was third in 22:38.

Shirvan Baboolal, who was part of the Richard Jones Racing Club that won the NP marathon relay, on Friday, won the overall and men’s title in 15:46. Kyle Young Lao finished second in 17:09 and Genesis Joseph was third in 17:11.

After the win Williams said, “We are on holidays and we (were) really shocked because we came and we saw this event going on and we thought, ‘Wow, it is going to be amazing to take part.’ I contacted the organisers and they have been amazing. They were really organised and they gave us an entry. It is our first time in Trinidad and it is amazing.”

Williams, who is the Welch champion in the 800m, 1500m and 3000m steeplechase events, said she will be visiting Tobago today.

Despite the cool conditions in TT recently, it was hot for Williams. “We came from -4 degrees celsius, so even with the sun down it is still really hot.”

Baboolal said he was a bit weary from the event, on Friday, saying, “I came in today (yesterday) with some tired legs from the relay yesterday (Friday). I don’t think I had any sort of competition, but I am using these weekend races as part of my training.”

The Marathon Festival ends today with the marathon, which starts in Freeport at 5 am and ends at White Hall, Queen’s Park Savannah.