Secondary Schools' Track & Field
Rogers and Pulchan repeat at 4K champs
Joanna Rogers of St. Francois Girls College (left) and Matthew Pulchan of Pt. Fortin West Secondary (right) retained their titles in the 4K race of the 2017 TTSSTFA Secondary Schools Cross-Country run at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Sunday, October 15. Rogers won the event for the third straight year while Pulchan claimed his second consecutive crown.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Fri, Oct, 20): Joanna Rogers (St. Francois Girls College) and Matthew Pulchan (Pt. Fortin West Secondary) won back to back titles at the 2017 edition of the TTSSTFA's Secondary Schools Cross-Country Run and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah on Sunday, October 15. Rogers claimed the girls' under 17 4K event in 12 minutes 7 seconds (12:07) to complete a hat-trick of wins after she won the 2015 and 2016 under 16 editions. Pulchan ran away with the boys under 17 version in 10:28 to add to his triumph in the 2016. Octavia Cambrige (Bishops Anstey) followed Rogers home ahead of Cassandra Joseph (Toco Secondary) while Joel Laloo (Toco Secondary) took the runner-up spot behind Pulchan. Laloo, who was first in last year's under 14 division, edged out 2016 overall-second and third place finishers, Jamal Goita (Toco Secondary) and Ethan Forde (Fatima College) to third and fourth respectively.
Rogers started positively, getting out to a fast start, and was with the leading pack of boys early in the race. The fourth former eventually finished 20th overall with a strong finish. The 2017 Carifta Girls Under 18 4x400m bronze medallist was proud of her third win and said her victory in 2015 stands out. "I feel ecstatic to win this race. I just came out here to do my best to make my coaches and parents proud and also to represent my school well. The first win (two years ago) was the most important to me because it showed what I could become. It showed that I was competitive." Rogers added that after assessing her effort she believes there is room for improvement. "My performance tell me I have more work to do to improve in the following year." The Diego Martin resident is looking ahead to run faster in her pet events the 2018 season. "My goals for the the upcoming track season is the lower my times in the 400m and 800m to at 54/53 (seconds) and 2:10 (2 minutes 10 seconds). I am also looking forward to make (my third straight) Carifta (Games) team next year. " She added that she is trying her best to balance her school work and her athletic career. "Time management is a bit difficult due to the times we finish training. I try my best go have a balance between my school work and track.
Under 17 4K-top three
Top three finishers in the Under 17 4K at the 2017 TTSSTFA Secondary Schools Cross-Country run at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Sunday, October 15. Joanna Rogers (top right) won the girls race. Rogers collects her trophy from President of the TTSSTFA Dr. Phillip Allard. Octavia Cambridge (top left) was second and Cassandra Joseph (top centre) finished in third.
Matthew Pulchan (bottom left) took home the boy's title ahead of Joel Laloo ( bottom centre) and Jamal Goita (bottom right). .
Meanwhile, Pulchan felt this year's victory was earlier for him as he was better prepared when compared to last year. "(I guess) how I trained really, really hard I felt this (victory) was (like) nothing." He is coached by his uncle George Smith, a top local distance runner. "My uncle (and I) we started to do a gym (work now). After training I usually do push-ups." The Rousillac resident is aiming to be on T&T's team for the 2018 Carifta Games. 'I want to make the (qualifying) times to go (the) Carifta (Games in the Bahamas in April). I am aiming for the 800m and the 1500m."
Rogers and Pulchan were presented with their champion trophies by president of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association (TTSSTFA) Dr. Phillip Allard, a brief prize giving ceremony after the race
The 2017 edition of the Secondary's Schools Cross Country Run and Health Fair race started and ended between Victoria and Stanmore Avenues in overcast but dry conditions. The start time pushed by 3:30pm from the scheduled 2:00pm start as the organisers awaited the arrival of several race officials and athletes. One hundred and twenty three (123) athletes (38 girls and 85 boys) representing 21 schools competed in the 4K edition. The competitors and spectators participated in warm up and cool down aerobics before and after the race. Blue Waters was the sponsor of this year's race . Several organisations: Blue Waters, VEMCO-Gatorade, Bermudez, Institute of Health and Fitness, Herbalife and Kiss Baking set up display booths and provided free samples of their products and services.
The Cross-Country Run & Health Fair was the first of four major events on the TTSSTFA calendar. The next event is the 5K Classic at Shiva Boys College, Penal on November 5. The Relay Festival is listed for the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar on February 1, 2018 with the Track and Field Championships slated for the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on February 22 & 23, 2018.
The vision of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association (TTSSTFA) is to become the leader in track and field development in Trinidad and Tobago through the formulation of strategic relationships, effective promotion of track and field initiatives and professionally executed track and field events. Dr. Phillip Allard, principal of Pleasantville Secondary, is the current president of the association. Barrington Richardson (Palo Seco Secondary) and Janelle Edwards (Speyside High) are First and Second Vice President respectively. Andy Joseph (Moruga Secondary) is serving as Secretary with Candice Barrow (Mason Hall Secondary) as Assistant Secretary. Ryan Perriera (Sangre Grande Secondary) is the current Treasurer and Indra Ramsingh-Geoffrey (San Fernando West Secondary) Public Relations Officer. Joseph Brewster (Toco Secondary), Bernanadine Hazard-Charles (Marabella South Secondary) and Jillian Huggins (Pleasantville Secondary) are the Trustees. Competing schools are divided into eight zones with each zone run by a coordinator: Port Spain (Hayes Jones), St. George East (Phillip Kalloo), North East (Verona Davis-Modeste), Tobago (Xavier King), Caroni (George Dottin), Victoria (Aravind Ramgoolam), St. Patrick (Dexter Saklal) and South East (Robert Warner).8, 2nd Jamal Goita (Toco Sec) 10:45, 3rd Ethan Forde (Fatima) 10:52
RESULTS - Under 17-4km
Girls | Boys | |
---|---|---|
(Overall) |
|
|
(Age Groups) | ||
Under 13 |
|
|
Under 15 |
|
|
Under 17 |
|
|