Tafari Waldron and Samantha Shukla combined for the first-ever local sweep of the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon titles.
Waldron emerged victorious in the men’s race, the 19-year-old runner completing the 13.1-mile course in one hour, nine minutes, 53 seconds. Shukla, the women’s runner-up in 2023, got home in 1:37:06 to complete the Trinidad and Tobago double.
Waldron got to the finish line, in front of UWI SPEC in St Augustine, just ahead of Alex Ekesa, the Kenyan clocking 1:09:54. Dethroned champion Nicholas Romany secured third spot with a 1:13:53 run.
“I’m very proud of my performance,” a thrilled Waldron told the Express. “I was working towards this for a month and a half, and I was able to execute it at my best and get first position. Thank God I was injury-free and healthy leading up to this.”
At the 12-mile mark, just before the Tunapuna Market on the Priority Bus Route (PBR), Ekesa was in front. Waldron, though, was on the Kenyan’s shoulder and looking very comfortable. The T&T runner made his move very late, but it was decisive. Ekesa could not respond, a confident Waldron putting his right index finger on his lips as he crossed the finish line.
“That was just for the doubters,” Waldron explained. “To be honest, there were more supporters for Alex on the course, so I was disappointed that they weren’t rooting for their own local people. I only heard my name once or twice, while the majority of people were calling for Alex. I didn’t really want to do it, but that’s what it was; for the doubters.”
Within a few minutes of the start, outside UWI SPEC, it was clear that last year’s top three—Romany, Ekesa and Waldron— would again be the main contenders. They entered the PBR together, and remained within a few strides of each other in the early stages. Ekesa was ahead as the trio ran past a small but enthusiastic group of bell-ringing supporters near the Eddie Hart Ground in Tacarigua.
At the three-mile mark, Ekesa was still in front, with training partners Waldron and Romany about five strides behind. Close to Five Rivers, Romany dropped off the pace. Last year, he became the first local winner of the men’s race. In 2024, however, a leg injury hampered Romany’s bid for back-to-back titles.
At the halfway point, near La Resource Junction in D’Abadie, it was clear that top spot would go to either Waldron or Ekesa. At the eight-mile mark, Ekesa’s lead was insignificant. Waldron was locked on to his hip. Strangely, though, it was the foreigner who received most of the encouragement along the course as the pair matched each other stride-for-stride in the last five miles.
“I wasn’t in too much fatigue,” said Waldron, “so I knew all I had to do was stay within striking range and make my move at the best time; I overtook him and just continued picking up the pace. I was confident in my speed.”
Waldron romped to victory, sparking unbridled celebrations from his exultant mother. With the win, the two-time Carifta Games 5,000 metres champion underlined his credentials as a distance runner equally dangerous on track and road.
Shukla became only the third local to get home first in a UWI SPEC women’s race, following in the strides of 2007 winner Shermin Lasaldo and three-time champion Tonya Nero. Shukla’s 1:37:06 run gave her a huge cushion on Zara Suite-Stewart, the runner-up in 1:41:42. Celine Lestrade clocked 1:42:54 to finish third.
“I’m elated,” Shukla told the Express. “I’m grateful I’m still in the game and God is still using me to do His good work. It was difficult for me in the second half of the race because I got really sick last week. But God came through and I’m grateful that He held me together and I was able to cross the line first today.
“I wasn’t training for this race,” the 2024 UWI Spec Half women’s champion explained. “This wasn’t my focus. But three weeks before, God told me ‘Samantha, register for this race’. I just trusted Him, and He delivered the victory. The story is not about me being sick. The story is that God promised something to me, I obeyed, and He delivered.”
Top spot among the men in the UWI SPEC 5K went to Darius Harding in 17 minutes, 19 seconds, while Shian Lewis won the women’s race in 20:47.
RESULTS:
Half-Marathon
Men
1 Tafari Waldron (T&T) 1:09:53
2 Alex Ekesa (Kenya) 1:09:54
3 Nicholas Romany (T&T) 1:13:53
4 Collin Pereira (T&T) 1:16:11
5 Donnell Francis (T&T) 1:17:36
Women
1 Samantha Shukla (T&T) 1:37:06
2 Zara Suite-Stewart (T&T) 1:41:42
3 Celine Lestrade (T&T) 1:42:54
4 Aniqah Bailey (T&T) 1:43:09
5 Christine Regis (T&T) 1:44:02
5K
Men
1 Darius Harding (T&T) 17:19
2 Raheem Modeste (T&T) 17:36
3 Christopher Sammy (T&T) 17:47
Women
1 Shian Lewis (T&T) 20:47
2 Nyla Kerr (T&T) 21:02
3 Alexia John (T&T) 21:58