Stephen Njoroge had things all his own way en route to a Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon hat-trick, at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, yesterday.

Njoroge completed the 26.2-mile course – from St Mary’s Junction in Freeport to Whitehall–in two hours, 34 minutes and 31 seconds. While the Kenyan’s clocking was slower than his winning efforts in 2018 and 2019, the margin of victory in 2020 was greater.

“It was easy,” Njoroge declared, following his third T&T Marathon triumph on the trot.

Hellen Mugo won the women’s race in 2:51:06, finishing more than a minute ahead of her fellow-Kenyan Grace Kahura, the 2019 winner securing second spot in 2:52:07. Another Kenyan, five-time champion Leah Kigen rounded off the top three with a 2:52:48 run. Sjaelan Evans was the first local female to complete the course, the 34-year-old finishing sixth among the women in 3:38:23.

“I’m pretty happy,” Mugo told the Express. “The course is very nice but the climate is very hot, very humid. But I have run in places very hot like Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and won twice, so for me it was easy.”

Jose Ararat Diaz finished second to Njoroge in the men’s race, the Colombian crossing the finish line in 2:35:52. Collin Pereira got home in a personal best 2:40:49 to secure third spot, earning the distinction of being the first local finisher in the 2020 edition of the race. Kenyan Dismas Ondimu was fourth in 2:43:02. T&T veteran Curtis Cox, meanwhile, was tenth among the men in 3:09:07.

For more than half the race, Njoroge, Diaz, Pereira and Ondimu battled for supremacy. Some 30 minutes into their journey, the four runners were egged on by a small but lively iron band in front of The Liquor House in Enterprise. About an hour later, however, the lead pack was down to three, Diaz unable to keep pace with his rivals as they headed towards the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in Valsayn, near Kay Donna.

Njoroge, Pereira and Ondimu turned from the Southern Main Road, in Curepe, onto the Priority Bus Route together. Pereira, though, was dropped close to WASA in St Joseph, near the 17-mile marker. And a couple miles later, as he approached the Croisee in San Juan, Njoroge made a decisive move, pulling away from Ondimu.

Diaz made up valuable ground on the Bus Route, eventually surging past Pereira and Ondimu. Njoroge, though, was out of the Colombian’s league. When he turned onto the Eastern Main Road, in Laventille, Njoroge enjoyed a 200-metre cushion on Diaz.

Njoroge was in full control of the race at that stage, and in no danger of missing out on the US$5,000 top prize. There were no challengers in sight as he made his way along South Quay, Wrightson Road and Ariapita Avenue. And by the time Njoroge hit the home straight in front of Queen’s Royal College, the result had long been determined. The Mexico-based Kenyan completed the formality to crown himself hat-trick champion.

Some six minutes later, Pereira crossed the line to claim the US$1,000 third prize.

“I’ve come to take over the mantle from Curtis Cox. I am the man. I am the man to take the baton from Cox and run with it. No Kenyan should be coming down here and beating us, not at all. This is the last year this occurs,” the 27-year-old coast guardsman declared.

“In my book, Cox is a legend. He has been carrying Trinidad and Tobago distance running on his back,” Pereira ended. “I want to see him coaching now.”

RESULTS

Men

1 Stephen Njoroge (Kenya) 2:34:31

2 Jose Ararat Diaz (Colombia) 2:35:52

3 Collin Pereira (T&T) 2:40:49

4 Dismas Ondimu (Kenya) 2:43:02

5 Christopher Mitchell (T&T) 2:43:11

6 Thomas Adams (Great Britain) 2:51:36

7 Michael Honore (T&T) 2:54:21

8 Guswil George (T&T) 3:02:08

9 Nigel Simon (T&T) 3:04:12

10 Curtis Cox (T&T) 3:09:07

Women

1 Hellen Mugo (Kenya) 2:51:06

2 Grace Kahura (Kenya) 2:52:07

3 Leah Kigen (Kenya) 2:52:48

4 Palmenia Agudelo (Colombia) 2:56:03

5 Everline Atancha (Kenya) 3:10:05

6 Sjaelan Evans (T&T) 3:38:23

7 Chantel Le Maitre (T&T) 3:41:00

8 Patricia Sorias (T&T) 4:01:42

9 Lara Littlepage (T&T) 4:04:17

10 Shardie Mahabir (T&T) 4:06:58