By WALTER ALIBEY Sunday, December 27 2009

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NEIL STEWART...

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Neil Stewart warmed up for next month’s Clico International Marathon by placing sixth in the recent Barbados Half Marathon in Bridgetown.

The finish has been his best since competing in the 13.1 mile challenge and he told Newsday he is targeting a top ten position in the Clico-sponsored race now carded for January 24 from Chaguanas to Port-of- Spain.

The race was won, not surprisingly by Kenyan Philip Lagat in a time of one hour, 07 minutes and 02 seconds while the runner-up position taken by his countryman Robert Letting (Kenya) in one hour, 09 minutes and 41 seconds.

Meanwhile Richard Jones was the first TT runner to cross the finish line in a time of one hour, 10 minutes and 50 seconds.

Cleveland Forde of Guyana was fourth in (1:12:05) while another Guyana runner Kelvin Johnson was fifth in (1:15:43). Stewart’s finish came in 1:17:58 but on another day it could have been much better.

Another TT runner Kenrick Williams was eighth in (1:23:29) while Joel Bharat was tenth in (1:24:11).

Among the women, Trinidad and Tobago’s Christine Regis and Celine Lestrade were sixth and eight in the half marathon respectively with times of (1:39:14) and (1:43:15).

The race was won by Erin O’Mara of the United States (1:26:45) while Guyana’s Alika Morgan was second in (1:33:06).

Yesterday Stewart said he will graciously accept a top five finish in the gruelling clico marathon but has been progressing nicely at his finishes yearly.

Only this year the slim-built Point Fortin Road Runner’s Club runner admitted that he returned a credible 11th place finish in the clico race amidst an extremely challenging field. And he has been training intensively, turning day into night, for the big race next year.

He has been progressing in his performances at the 26.1 mile events, as he placed 15th at the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon back in 2005 and a year later (2006) he finished 30th in the same race that comprised of an amazing 10,000 participants.

Meanwhile Stewart failed to compete in the Barbados Marathon which was held soon after the half marathon but he looked on as his Trinidad and Tobago countryman Curtis Cox crossed the line for a well-deserved fourth.

The race was won by St Lucia’s Victor Ledger with Kenyan Simon Sawe storming home for a credible second.

Another St Lucian Zepherinus Joseph was third while St Vincent and the Grenadine’s Pamenos Ballantyne continued to struggle with a seventh place finish.