Secondary Schools' Track & Field 

Joseph was elated with her achievement. " It was tough but I was happy for winning. I did my best and I will keep on going.". The third form student said she was motivated to win this  year after coming close in the past two years. "(Finishing second in 2015 and third in 2016 played on my mind). Yes it did." The bespectacled lass is aiming to represent Trinidad and Tobago at next year's Carifta Games and has her sights to competing at the Olympic Games. 

Joseph wins 5K
Casandra Joseph of Toco Secondary (right) crossing the line to win the girls' category at the Blue Waters/TTSSTFA Secondary Schools 5K

Photos taken by Dennis Taye Allen at the Blue Waters/TTSSTFA Secondary Schools 5K Classic in Penal on Sunday, November 5.

Top three with trophy
Top three girls collect their trophies at the Blue Waters/TTSSTFA Secondary Schools 5K Classic in Penal on Sunday, November 5.  Helen Forbes-Huggins, Physical Education and Sport Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education presents the winner Cassandra Joseph (left) and third placer Kelly-Ann Phillip (right). First Vice-president of TTSSTFA Barrington Richardson hands the runner-up Shania Le Maitre (middle) with her trophy. 

(Photo by Dennis Taye Allen)

Jah ahead in girls race
Kaylah Jah of Point Fortin West Secondary takes early lead in the girls' division.

Girls at start
Girls await the start at the Blue Waters/TTSSTFA Secondary Schools 5K Classic in Penal on Sunday, November 5. From left Kaylah Jah, Karishma Boodoo, Alicia King and Aliesha King. 

Phillips-3rd
Kelly-Ann Phillips took the third spot in the girls' division

Le Maitre-2nd
Shania Le Maitre of Holy Name Convent-POS on her way to second place among the girls.

PENAL, Trinidad (Mon, Nov 6): Cassandra Joseph  won the girls race  at the 2017 Blue Waters sponsored TTSSTFA Secondary Schools 5K Classic at Shiva Boys Hindu College, Clarke Road, Penal on Sunday, November 5. Joseph completed the course in 17 minutes 57 seconds (17:57) ahead of the Over 17 6K Cross-Country champ Shania Le Maitre (Holy Name Convent-POS), 18:41,  and Kelly-Ann Phillip (Toco Sec), 18:49.  The 14 year old won on her third attempt after finishing second in 2015 and third in 2016. She ensured the girls' crown stayed in Toco for the fifth straight year following the hat trick of wins  Donicia Antoine  in 2014, 2015 and 2016.  Kaylah Jah of Point Fortin West Secondary made her bid for the top spot as she ran away with the male competitors at the start of the race. However, Joseph and her fellow Toco  runner Xea Bruce caught Jah before the roundabout at Katwaroo Trace. Cheziah Phillip (Toco Secondary) was in fourth ahead of Le Maitre with Nikiela Baptiste (Shiva Boys), Jakiba Ramjohn (Malabar Sec), Mikayla Ottey (Toco) and Kelly-Ann rounding off the top eight. Joseph then took control of the race and won by 44 seconds from Le Maitre. Kelly-Ann moved ahead of her rivals to finish in third (18:49) with Bruce ending in fourth (19:44). Aleisha King of Iere High (20:50) took fifth place ahead of Toco's Jada James (22:24), Fayanne Johnson (23.06), Kareice Roberts (23:09), Ottley (23.21) and Cheziah (23.35).

The winner was also the top under 15 finisher ahead of Kelly-Ann and Bruce, while Le Maitre was the best of the top 17 and over competitors leaving Ottley and Cheziah with the minor places. King was the best in the under 13 field.

2017 TTSSTFA/Blue Waters 5K Classic
Shiva Boys Hindu College, Penal

For full results, click here 

Results Girls
Girls: 1st Cassandra Joseph (Toco Sec) 17:57, 2nd Shania Le Maitre (Holy Name Convent-POS) 18:41, 3rd Kelly-Ann Phillip (Toco Sec) 18:49, 4th Xea Bruce (Toco Sec) 19:44, 5th Aleisha King (Iere High) 20:50, 6th Jada James (Toco Sec) 22:24, 7th Fayanne Johnson (Toco Sec) 23:06, 8th Kereice Roberts (Toco Sec) 23:09, 9th Mikayla Ottley (Toco Sec) 23:21, 10th Cheziah Phillip (Toco Sec) 23:35, 11th Alicia King (Parvati Girls) 23:52, 12th Kylay Jah (Pt. Fortin West Sec) 23:59, 13th Jakiba Ramjohn (Malabar Sec) 24:02, 14th Karishma Boodoo (Iere High) 24:05, 15th Areyka Benjamin (Malabar Sec) 24:08, 16th Melonie Welsh (Toco Sec) 25:23, 17th Kia Gibbs (Toco Sec) 25:27, 18th Nikiela Baptiste (Shiva Boys) 25:34, 19th Ricah Henry (Toco Sec) 25:57, 20th Ricelle Dasent (Malabar Sec) 27:31, 21st Anna Ram (Holy Faith-Penal)  28:05, 22nd Celine St. Clair (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 28:11, 23rd Shirmieka Punter (Toco Sec) 28:53, 24th Shonda Lewis (Toco Sec) 29:21, 25th Delicia Thom (Toco Sec) 29:21, 26th Keara James (Toco Sec) 29:22, 27th Alicia Barrow (Holy Nme-Pt. Fortin) 29:53, 28th Curlissa Ali (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 29:54, 29th Nataliah Bedeau (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 30:37, 30th Aquia Quashie (Malabar Sec) 30:49, 31st Allisha Rampersad (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 34:03, 32nd Jade Henry (Malabar Sec) 34:49, 33rd Nialea Baptiste (Holy Faith-Couva) 35:06, 34th Shaquan Andrews (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 40:42, 35th Tineil Cumberbatch (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 40:52, 36th Nickeshia Richins (Holy Name-Pt. Fortin) 41:47, 37th Shania Whiteman (Shiva Boys) 41:57, 38th Dianne Ramkissoon (Shiva Boys) 42:39, 39th Adesha Samlal (Shiva Boys) 42:40, 40th Briana Bajnath (Holy Faith-Penal) 42:54, 41st Mikaela Maharaj (Shiva Boys) 43:55 

Joseph cops Secondary Schools 5K girls race

by Clayton Clarke (sportscoretobago@gmail.com)​​; 7.11.2017