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Toco Sec-top Cross Country School
Students of Toco Secondary celebrate with their trophies after winning the Top School honour for yet another year at the 2017 TTSSTFA Secondary Schools Cross-Country Run and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Sunday, October 15. 

Toco Secondary retain Schools Cross-Country crown

by Clayton Clarke (sportscoretobago@gmail.com)​​; 20.10.2017

Secondary Schools' Track & Field 

Toco Sec collects Trophy
Toco Secondary's Physical Education teacher Avianne Tobias (right) collects the champion trophy from president of the TTSSTFA Dr. Phillip Allard (left) after Toco Secondary won the top school award at the 2017 TTSSTFA Secondary Schools Cross-Country Run and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Sunday, October 15.  

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Fri, Oct, 20): Toco Secondary prevailed as the top school once again at the 2017 TTSSTFA Secondary Schools Cross-Country Run and Health Fair at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Sunday, October 15. Toco fielded the largest team of 58 competitors and secured the overall crown for yet another year.  Boys 17 & Over 6K winner Otis Barker led the way for Toco. School-mates Joel Laloo and Jamal Goita finished second and third in the boys under 17 4K discipline while Cassandra Joseph and Cheziah Phillip were third in the girls under 17 4K and girls 17 & over  6K respectively. Shonia Lewis (4th-G 17 & O 6K), Mikayla Ottley (5th-G 17 & O 6K),  Davelon Callender (5th-B U17 4K), Ricah Henry (6th-G 17 & O 6K), Jamal Joseph (6th-B 17 & O 6K), Kibwe Cromwell (7th-G 17 &O 6K), Xea Bruce (8th-G U 17 4K) and Valentonio Elder (8th-B 17 & O 6K) secured top eight finishes to gain valuable points for champions.

Toco swept the G U13 4K category as Kereice Roberts was the top performer ahead of Tyler Shears and Shermieka Punters. Laloo took home the boys U 15 4K award which Daveon Callender taking second for a 1-2 for the winning school. Goita was second in the B U17 6K accolade. Bishops Anstey secured two runner-up places courtesy Octavia Cambridge (G U17 4K) and Renata Charles (G 17 & O 6K). Sangre Grande Secondary finished with two athletes in the top eight as Justin Parks was third in the B 17 & O 6K and Camille Lewis , fourth in G U17 4K. Ethan Forde (4th-B U17 4K) and Andwele Welch (8th-B U17 4K) earned top finishes for Fatima College.

One hundred and fifty-seven (157) students from over 27 schools competed, which represented a drop in the number of participants compared to the 2016 race where over 200 athletes ran. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association (TTSSTFA) Dr. Phillip Allard lamented that there are signs of a drop in interest in distance running. However, he encouraged those who participated in the event. "There is an indication that our distance running is on the decline.  It is great to see that our young athletes continue to persevere. We wish to congratulate the coaches and teachers who are here." Dr. Allard praised the schools which supported the event. "The consistency of many schools that continue to put their faith  and put their inspiration into our young people. It is through our  young people that we will rise as a nation. So congratulations to all and we look forward to everybody here being at our 5K which is on November 5 at Shiva Boys Colllege. We look forward to great thing."

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 delayed to  3:30pm from the scheduled 2:00pm start as the organisers awaited the arrival of several race officials and athletes. Thirty-four (34) athletes (9 girls and 25 boys) representing 15 schools competed in the 6K 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).