Submitted by:

Clayton Clarke
Media Liaison, Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association
Sportscore Tobago
(1-868)-321-6195

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: (Tues Oct, 18) Joanna Rogers (St. Francois Girls), Matthew Pulcan (Pt. Fortin West Secondary), Daniel Gibbs (East Mucurapo Secondary) and Kershell Mc Intyre (St. James Secondary) were winners at the annual National Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah on Sunday, October 16. Rogers won the girls 4Km title with Pulcan taking the boys' equivalent. The 2016 Carifta girls under 18 800m finalist finished ahead of Melissa Boxhill (Bishops Centenary) and Caliyah Wallace (St. Francois Girls). Pulcan took home the boys 4km crown ahead of Jamal Goita (Toco Secondary) and Ethan Forde (Fatima).

Gibbs raced to victory in the boys 6k run in front of Otis Barker (Toco Secondary) and Akeem Marine (Pleasantville Secondary). Mc Intyre secured the girls trophy, however, was not present to receive her prize as her name was not included on the official results. The Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association is investigating the discrepancy and will issue a statement soon. 

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In the Girls’ age group divisions overall 4k winner Rogers retained the under 16 trophy ahead Boxhill and Caliyah Wallace. Casandra Joseph (Toco Secondary) took the Under 14 crown, improving on her second place finish last year. Her school mate Xea Bruce took the runner-up position ahead of Octavia Cambridge (Bishops Anstey). Donicia Antoinia (Toco Secondary) ran away with the under 18 ​honours leading a 1-2 finish for Toco as Okiela Williams was second. Blossom Swift (Corpus Christi) claimed the bronze. Top 6K girl Mc Intyre was the top girls in the under 18 division and prevented a Toco Secondary sweep. Toco's Carifta bronze medallist Cheziah Phillip took second ahead of school-mates Kerneka Waldron and Ruth Henry.

Among the boys age categories, Gibbs took care of the over 18 prizes ahead of last year's under 18 victor Barker and Ashmeed Jones (St. Joseph Secondary). Marine was the best in the under 18 runners. Justin Park (Sangre Grande Secondary) and Valentino Elder (Toco Secondary) were second and third. Pulcan won the Under 16 class defeating Goita and Forde. The Toco Secondary pair of Joel Lado and Tyron Ragoo were first and second in the under 14 division. Obadyah Louis (Marabella South Secondary) took third. Toco Secondary fielded the largest team. 

The athletes battled the wet conditions at the Savannah after rains delayed the start of the races by close to one hour. After competing they sampled from products from the distributors (Gatorade, Blue Waters, Bermudez, S.M Jaleel) and participated in the aerobic cool-down .

Present at the event was John Thatcher, Physical Education Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education. Thatcher assisted with the distribution of prizes.
The Cross Country and Health Fair is the first event on the 2016/2017 Secondary Schools Track and Field Season. The second event is the 5K run on Sunday November, 20 in Marabella. The Schools Relays Festival (Thu February, 16, 2012) and the National Championships (April 27 & 28, 2017) are the other major events on the T&T Secondary Schools Track and Field calendar.

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​RESULTS 

4K

6K

Daniel Gibbs
Daniel Gibbs of East Mucurapo Secondary on his way to victory

Akeem Marine
Winner of the Boys under 18 division Akeem Marine of Pleasantville Secondary (right) collects his prize from John Thatcher, Physical Education Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education, (left) ​

Rogers, Pulcan, Gibbs and Mc Intyre claim Schools Cross-Country titles

Gibbs and Mc Intyre
Winner of the boys 6Km Daniel Gibbs of East Mucurapo (left) with the girls winner Kershel Mc Intyre of St. James Sec (left) 

Finish
Athletes sprint to the finish line at the 2016 Ministry of Education/TTSSTFA National Secondary Schools Cross-Country Run and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Sunday, October, 16​

Mathew Pulchan 
Mathew Pulcan (Pt. Fortin West Secondary) crosses the line to win the boys 4km title

Donicia Antoine
 Donicia Antoine of Toco Secondary (right), winner of the girls over 18 division is presented with her prize by president of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association Philip Allard (left) 

Casandra Joseph
Toco Secondary's Casandra Joseph (right), accepts her prize for topping the Girls Under 14 division from collects his prize from John Thatcher, Physical Education Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education, (left) 

Start of 4K
Athletes start the 4Km run at the 2016 Ministry of Education/TTSSTFA National Secondary Schools Cross-Country Run and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah

Winner Daniel Gibbs
Winner of the Boys 6km Daniel Gibbs of East Mucurapo Secondary (right) collects his age group prize from President of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association Philip Allard (left) 

Aerobics-Pleasantville Sec
Students of Pleasantville Secondary participate in the aerobic cool-down

Photos and captions courtesy Clayton Clarke/Sportscore Tobago

Videos courtesy Aaron Lewis/Sportscore Tobago

Toco Secondary with Medals
Athletes from Toco Secondary with their medals

Joel Lalo
Top Under 14 finisher, Joel Lalo of Toco Secondary (right) collects his prize from John Thatcher, Physical Education Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education, (left) 

Joanna Rogers
Winner of Girls 4Km Joanna Rogers of St. Francois Girls College (right) is presented with her prize by John Thatcher, Physical Education Curriculum Officer, Ministry of Education, (left) 

Secondary Schools' Track & Field