Nicholas Romany aims to defend Chinatown 7K title

PREMIER road runner and defending champion Nicholas Romany said he'll be doing his utmost to retain his crown when the second annual Chinatown Friendship 7K Road Race is contested in the capital city of PoS from 4 pm on September 29.

Romany won the inaugural Friendship 7K last year in a time of 22 minutes, edging Kenyan Alex Ekesa and ace TT junior athlete Tafari Waldron, the 2024 Carifta champion in the boys' under-20 5,000-metre event. Samantha Shukla won the women's 7K title last year.

The 2024 race was launched at the head office of the Fui Toong On Association at Charlotte Street, PoS on July 30, with PoS mayor Chinua Alleyne and Chinese ambassador to TT, Fang Qiu, among those in attendance.

For the 2024 edition of the road race, the winner will receive a $3,000 prize, with the runner-up and third-place finisher receiving $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Last year, in addition to his $3,000 prize, Romany got an all-expenses-paid trip to the Run Barbados Marathon event in December. Romany excelled on the trip to Barbados — winning titles in the Fun Mile, 10K and half-marathon events.

Romany said it was an "exciting and honourable" experience to compete in the heartbeat of the nation's capital and its most popular streets in the inaugural Chinatown Friendship 7K, and he was grateful for the opportunity to represent TT in Barbados.

"It's a race I'll never forget," Romany said. "Being able to represent myself is a great feeling, but being able to represent a nation of people is honourable and something special. And it's sometimes difficult to put into words."

Romany also thanked the Fui Toong On Association for understanding the needs of local athletes and giving them an avenue to explore their athletic dreams.

"I'm not sure about the other participants, but I don't think anyone will be more excited than me to participate in this year's Friendship 7K Road Race," Romany said.

"Just know, I'll be running very hard."

Registration for the race will launch on August 2 and will cost $135. Last year's race saw over 1,500 competitors making their way through the usual bustling streets of the capital city in what was the first road race held in PoS for over 30 years.

The race started and ended at the Chinatown arch at the corner of Charlotte Street and the Brian Lara Promenade.

This year's race will commence and end at the Queen's Park Savannah. The route will see the runners proceeding in a westerly direction as they run around the savannah before making their way down Charlotte Street. The race course will then take them up Frederick Street before its conclusion at the savannah.

Ambassador Qiu said the race is among a series of events that are being specifically held to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between TT and China, and he believes it's an event that can see its competitors "unite in the spirit of friendly competition, sportsmanship, camaraderie and community."

This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"In the past five decades, the relationship between our two countries has only grown stronger and both countries have only been steadfast in the development of bilateral cooperation," Qiu said.

"For some, 50 years might be regarded as a short span of time in history, but our roots run deeper.

"I'm also confident the sound relations between our China and TT will make even greater progress as we're both committed to establishing ourselves as a community with a shared future."

Last year, the Fui Toong On Association donated $100,000 to the Homeless Assistance Office in PoS.

"This year, the Chinese community will once more contribute the proceeds from the race to a worthy local charity," Qiu said.