[UPDATED] Tafari Waldron, Samantha Shukla seal victory at UWI Spec half-marathon

NATIONAL Under-20 5,000-metre record-holder Tafari Waldron claimed victory at the 18th UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon on November 10 in one hour, nine minutes and 53 seconds (1:09:53), creeping past Kenya’s Alex Ekesa by just one second in a thrilling finish.

Nicholas Romany, the 2023 champion and Waldron’s training partner, placed third in 1:13:53.

Waldron told Newsday he set ambitious targets for the 13.1-mile race, but did not expect to come out on top.

“I was feeling good (throughout) the race and was comfortable up to the halfway point (when) the pace started to pick up coming back down the road.

“The last three miles were the hardest, but I knew once I held on to (Ekesa) I had a chance to win. I was able to hold on and grind to the finish and just made sure to hold him off to get the victory.

“I expected to get a personal best, but that’s it. I didn’t expect to win or anything like that.”

Waldron, winner of a Carifta 5,000m gold medal in April, showed marked improvement over last year’s UWI SPEC Half-Marathon, where he placed third in 1:13:09 in his first appearance at the event.

Newsday asked Waldron how he managed such an impressive improvement in one year. “Just consistency in training, training hard and training with the right people,” he replied. Like Nicholas Romany, my training partner, and other good athletes around me.”

Waldron also credited his coach Jason Paris for his dedication and expertise.

Newsday also spoke with Romany, who congratulated Waldron after the race. Romany praised his teammate’s dramatic progress and acknowledged Waldron had earned the win even though he (Romany) wasn’t at his peak.

“He did a really, really excellent job. He’s a phenomenal athlete in training and getting stronger and better, and I’m very happy for him,” Romany told Newsday. He said the sky is the limit for Waldron, who turned 19 last month.

“He has age on his side, and we have a good group in training. He keeps improving, so anything is possible with Tafari.”

The race began and ended at the UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) in St Augustine, following a typical route along the Priority Bus Route.

Starting in 2004, the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon has attracted a mix of local and international competitors, with past winners coming from Kenya, Venezuela, and the Caribbean. The race resumed in 2023 after a three-year hiatus owing to the pandemic, with over 1,800 participants from 21 countries.

Romany took the men’s title last year in 1:11:43, while French runner Cécilia Mobuchon led the women’s race in 1:18:45.

In the women’s half-marathon this year, Samantha Shukla secured first place in 1:37:06, an improvement on her runner-up finish in 2023. Zara Suite-Stewart finished second in 1:41:42, followed by Celine Lestrade (1:42:54) in third.

Defence Force’s Darius Harding won the men’s 5K event in 17 minutes and 19 seconds (17:19), ahead of Raheem Modeste of Sabres Multisport Club in 17:36, and Christopher Sammy of +One a Week in 17:47.

Shian Lewis won the women’s 5K in 20:47, followed by Nyla Kerr in 21:02, and Alexia John in third at 21:58.

The UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon is organised in partnership with the National Association of Athletics Administrations and the TT Olympic Committee and is accredited by AIMS and World Athletics.

This year, the race highlighted dyslexia in collaboration with the Dyslexia Association of TT. Funds were raised to support teacher training in structured literacy education and outreach efforts. It aimed to help people with dyslexia build essential skills, enhance their well-being, and foster a sense of achievement and inclusion.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

NATIONAL Under-20 5K record holder Tafari Waldron clinched his first UWI Spec International Half-Marathon title in a dramatic finish on November 10, outpacing Alex Ekesa by one second to the finish line.

The race began and ended at the UWI Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) in St Augustine, and ran along the Priority Bus Route.

The 19-year-old Carifta Under-20 5,000-metre gold medallist won in one hour, nine minutes, 53 seconds.

Though a close second to Waldron, Ekesa enjoyed an almost four-minute gap ahead of 2023 champion Nicholas Romany in third.

Romany, of the TT Road Runners Club and wearing bib number one, finished in 1:13:53, well short of the 1:11:43 mark that won him last year’s half-marathon.

Defence Force’s Darius Harding won the 5K in 17:19, ahead of Raheem Modeste (17:36) and Christopher Sammy (17:47), the other podium finishers.

Samantha Shukla, runner-up in 2023, emerged victorious in the women's half-marathon with a time of 1:37:06. Zara Suite-Stewart claimed second place in 1:41:42, followed by Celine Lestrade in third at 1:42:54.

Shian Lewis won the women's 5K event in 20:47, followed by Nyla Kerr, who finished in 21:02. Alexia John rounded out the top three in 21:58.