CURTIS COX makes his Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM) comeback from five o’clock tomorrow morning at St Mary’s Junction, Freeport.

Cox last competed in the event in 2018, celebrating his 30th outing in the 26.2-mile race with a ninth-place finish. He was the first T&T runner to cross the finish line.

“I said previously that I was not going to run anymore T&T Marathons,” Cox told the Express, “because I thought 30 was enough, and was giving younger runners the opportunity. But the barrel is bare. Also, my focus is more foreign marathons.”

At age 52, Cox will lead the charge for T&T in tomorrow’s race.

“I was prompted to run when I heard Cantius Thomas said 2019 was his last year, and when I looked at the crop of other runners I am not seeing at least two locals to place in the top five with sub-two hours and 50 minutes. Also, I want to use it as a foundation for London Marathon on April 26. My last marathon was Sea to Sea in May 2019, and I got injured within a week after the race.

“I want to motivate people who are using age, etcetera as an excuse not to participate,” the evergreen athlete declared. “I said I retired from the T&T marathon but, like (Dwayne) Bravo, I want to come out of retirement.”

Sadly, though, Cox’s decision to compete in the 2020 T&T International Marathon has drawn some harsh criticism.

“I was expecting a top-five finish and sub-two hours, 50 minutes. But I am not really motivated because of the negative comments I am getting. I don’t have anything else to prove,” he said.

Cox made his T&T International Marathon debut in 1986. In 2004, the Tobago-born runner clocked a personal best two hours, 21 minutes, 20 seconds to finish second. And one year later, he secured his lone victory in the race with a 2:24:21 effort.

Instead of braving the Eastern Main Road between Curepe Junction and South Quay in Port of Spain tomorrow, Cox and his rivals will enjoy a safe and traffic-free run along the Priority Bus Route.

“The course should be faster on the Bus Route because you eliminate the incline at Mt Lambert,” Cox explained.

Kenyan Stephen Njoroge will bid for his third straight T&T International Marathon title tomorrow. The men’s field also includes Njoroge’s fellow-Kenyan, Stephen Tanui.

The women’s race will feature a clash of Kenyans as well, defending champion Grace Kahura, five-time winner Leah Kigen, and Everline Atancha all battling to be the first female past the finish line at the Queen’s Park Savannah, opposite Whitehall. Colombian Raquel Agudelo and T&T’s Sjaelan Evans are also listed to compete.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis will again be walking the course to raise funds for the #TeamTTO Athlete Welfare & Preparation Fund. The walkers and slower runners are scheduled to start at 3.30 a.m.

The T&T International Marathon, Kiss National 5K and Savannah Relay make up the Festival of Events. The 5K will be contested from 4 p.m. today, starting at the Queen’s Park Savannah near the top of Dere Street. The Savannah Relay starts opposite Whitehall at 6.30 p.m.