Source: www.guardian.co.tt
National cross country champions Celine Lestrade and Denzil Ramirez have been named in the 12-member national contingent to participate in the 7th North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships to be staged at the Queen’s Park Savannah next Saturday. Lestrade earned selection after winning her first national women’s title at Sevilla Golf Couva last November. The 26-year-old will head a five-member women’s team for the six kilometre race. The other runners are Kerticha John, Melissa Daniel, Paulette Luces and Shermin Lasaldo.
At last year’s competition, which was staged at the Mt Irvine Golf Course, T&T’s women’s team copped the bronze in the team competition with Luces and Lasaldo part of the successful outfit. Lasaldo was 12th in the individual race just behind Samantha Shukla (11th) and ahead of Luces and Kema McShinen (16th). Ramirez, who also won his first national title in November, will compete in his first NACAC event. The Troy University will be hoping to use his experience gained from competiting in the NCAA cross country competition. He will be joined by Curtis Cox, George Smith Jules La Rode and Matthew Hagley on the men’s 8 kilometre team. All four were on last year’s men team.
Sherwin Shapleton is the other member. In 2010 the men runners were edged out of bronze by Guyana in the team race. T&T’s best finisher in the individual race was Richard Jones, who was 11th with Cox in 15th, smith 20th, Hagley, 22nd and La Rode, 23rd. Mark London is the lone athlete named for the junior men’s 6k race. The reigning double Carifta champion is competing in his second NACAC and is seeking to improve on his 28th position from last year.
FULL TEAM
Men’s 8K: Denzil Ramirez; Sherwin Stapleton; Curtis Cox; George Smith; Jules La Rode; Matthew Hagley
Women’s 6K: Celine Lestrade; Kerticha John; Melissa Daniel; Paulette Luces; Shermin Lasaldo
Junior Men’s 6K:Mark London