9 posts tagged “nikosi”
Nikosi Mc Leish at all three running events of the CariFin Urban Challenge to his long list of victories in his athletic Career. Hear him speak about his latest Chancellor Challenge - WIN!
Preview of the CariFin Urban Challenge - Green Mile
Will we see more of the same? Or will we see changing of positions as a competitive environment would dictate? Would Nikosi Mc Leish have things his own way and go on to win the second stage quite easily?
Or would appetites grow with the feeding as Shakespeare said as Crystal Ann develops a sweet tooth for winning CariFin events.
That is something to be seen.
The CariFin Green Mile, the second of the 4 part Urban Challenge events, takes place on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 5.00 p.m. This takes place on the inside of the sand track of the Queen’s Park Savannah, the start area is in line with the Botanic Garden/President's House area.
In Mc Leish's situation with a 1.38 minutes lead ahead of the second finisher, its hard to say from where competition will come if any. But being a mile – the classic racing distance if ever there was one… someone could take a liking for the “burn” and throw caution to the wind and sail over the back stretch and kick home with every thing they have to Mc Leish's surprise. But who has that kind of talent within the bunch? Who will even step out and try? Maybe there will be many to falter trying along the way.
The women's category is still an open case.. It will be interesting to see if Crystal Ann Awai holds on to the first
place. No doubt she will be severely tested seeing she drew first blood and this will bring the attack with a couple of the women changing their tactics to see different outcomes and results in the next event.
We must remember this is just a one mile event and every body has a view of the field. For Crystal Ann to run away from the field without a good chase is a bit difficult. After doing 18.58 for the Savannah and the second place Angela Parris finishing in 19.20, there was only a gap of 0.22 seconds. I guess with proper positioning and good tactic this could be an exciting event to see, that means they have to take the competition to Awai. If they relax and play its any body's game, then they would be giving Awai victory on a platter.
But on the other hand if she comes through this chase and she could pull away from the pack then she would run the race of her life. Her life yes; because last week’s victory was the first of its kind she had ever had.
I have seen her in training doing interval workout and I think she has the tenacity and talent to hold out for the mile.
Nikosi Mc Leish looks to make it Three in a row and a new woman champion to be found.
Port of Spain, Wednesday, 22 April 2009. Nikosi Mc Leish of RBTT two time winner of CariFin is poised to become of one of the few men to win CariFin three times in a row. Last year he predicted that he would win all four running races in CariFin and he did. The first leg of the journey to entering the corridor of CariFin greatness he must first win the Urban Challenge One Lap Savannah – which takes place on Thursday April 23, 2009 around the Queen’s Park savannah opposite TGIF at 5.00 pm.
A feat that may be made easier by the absence of John Warren of GHL and Rodney Julien of ALGICO. But a whole year has passed and other challengers would have moved up in the rank to try to get to sit on the king’s throne.
Those possible challengers could be last year’s fourth place finisher and the fast improving Ryan Pierre of GHL or maybe Keston Wright of Central Bank. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown and Mc Leish may very well be glancing at his side for his would be challenger.
But the odds on favourite would still be Mc Leish as he is well renown for his passion, dedication and commitment to year round training and racing and it would more than ever be impossible to beat him on a good day.
The woman division or category in CariFin is wide open and could be any body game in 2009 but with last year’s cross country champion and long time participant in CariFin Angela Parris of CLICO will probably have the experience and tactical know how to hold off the anticipated challenge. We would see the emergence of new talent and unexpected movement up at the top. There are teams that are in training hard for these events and as said in an interview by one of the GHL ‘s Team in Training runners -Crystal Ann Awai, “Surprises would happen.”
Other runners who have done quite well last year could feature prominently in the CariFin Urban Challenge 2009. These are Esla Anthony of Central Bank, Candace Rollocks of GHL, Mumtaz Amarali of Republic Bank, we would have to just wait and see.
For the second year there is an all out walking race. This race starts some 5 or 10 minutes after the running event.
In an interview with CariFin online news Hollis Grandville of GHL 2008 CariFin walking champion announced that he will be taking all the walking events in CariFin 2009.
On the women side of the walking event, Hazel Tywang–Mahraj will miss this year Urban Challenge so we will see a new champion being crown in this area
This year we are seeing a very good showing with teams with as much as 60 plus participants taking us over the 300 mark, this is a very good sign for the rest of CariFin Games 2009.
Mc Leish says he going for all four.
Nikosi Mc Leish of RBTT Bank sends out a warning to all would be contenders that he intends to hold on to his CariFin Cross Country title for 2008. He doesn’t imagine just winning at Sevilla but taking all CariFin running events in the process. In the bag he already has the Savannah One Lap and the Green Mile and he has stated quite categorically, “I am going for all four.”
Being able to distance himself by 31 seconds in the first event of the Urban Challenge, the One Lap Savannah, and by 6 seconds in the Green Mile, it is hard to see where if at all the competition will come from.
The next event on the cards is the Hollows Mini Cross Country on Wednesday April 23, 2008 at 5.00 pm. Mc Leish has shown a distinct liking for the uneven surface and should fancy his chances in the hollows.
Well the thing is how fast we would finish the course. Last year he came off injury to win this event, he had keen competition from Rodney Julien who finished two seconds behind him. You will see some where around a 6 minutes gap between himself and the second place finisher as was indicated by last week’s event which was around the same distance.
The hollows has an undulating contour, and is around 800 meters in perimeter and participants are required to make two laps around the course for the race totaling a distance of one mile.
Mc Leish takes second leg of CariFin Urban Challenge, Elsa Anthony wins her event in CariFin
Nikosi Mc Leish of RBTT Bank made it two in a row when he captured the second leg in the series of CariFin Urban Challenge, the Green Mile situated on the Sand Track in the Queen’s Park Savannah on Wednesday April 16, 2008 at about 5.15 pm.
Esla Anthony of CBTT won her first event in CariFin after participating for over 5 years, the race nearly went without her as she was a bit late, but in the end she enjoyed sweet success.
Close to 200 runners and walkers took to the starting line in this one mile event which included staff members of the following institutions, GHL, RBL, RBTT Bank, CBTT, CLICO, CIB, First Citizens, IBL, Grace Kennedy and CITI.
The runners started first and a few minutes after the walkers followed. The main objective of these events is to promote a healthier more active lifestyle, bringing the financial sector closer together through sports.
The other four finishers to make up the top five male are: were:
JOHN WARREN of GHL in 5:27, KESTON GABRIEL of First Citizens in 5:31, RYAN PIERRE of GHL in 6:02 and
JOHN DONALDSON of Grace Kennedy in 6.04.
The four female finishers of the top five are: Leigh Ann Benjamin-Campbell with 7.44, Melissa Berkley of GHL in 7.54, Angela Parris of CLICO 7.59 and Shironi Balgobin of GHL managed 8.09.
In the walk Hazel Tywang-Maharaj of RBTT continues to shine she copped the top place in 11.06 and was again the first walker to cross the finish line. She was followed by Neela kissoon of First Citizens in 11.46 and Tessa Weekes of RBL in 12.06.
In the men walk category shastri Girwar of RBL finished in 14.23, Alan Manwah of First citizens in 16.42 and Richard Assing of IBL in
Athlete of the Month - February 2008
At CariFin we have started a program to recognize the efforts and performances of those who pursue a more active lifestyle within the CariFin community; those who recognize that the responsibility of maintaining their personal health, energy and fitness is a big part of their personal responsibility.
To celebrate this factor of “CariFin Life” we have come up with the ‘Athlete of the Month’ to honor the male and female performance within a given month.
This award is based on performance and seeks to create some interactivity and hype that we will add your vote to the mix.
So to kick things off in the male category, who do we have?
The 2007 CariFin champion from RBTT Bank Nikosi Mc Leish had a ding dong tussle with Rodney Julien for leadership and control of the “Athlete of the Month” status. Rodney Julien we must remember is second place finisher at CariFin 2007 at Sevilla. He has claim to fame as having the fastest half marathon time among present crop of runners within the financial services sector. This he achieved as part of “Team CariFin” at UWI International half marathon when he finished 41st overall in a time 1.29.40.
This ding dong tussle took place at the TTUTA 10K on Saturday February 16, 2007 at the Queen’s Park Savannah. After running most of the race together, Rodney pulled away to finish in 16th place overall in 41.00. Mc Leish pulled through in 41.21.
Mcleish had a brilliant run at CLICO’s 5K finishing in 18.25 (his timing) and Julien finished down the track in 19….
And so the first recipient for CariFin’s “Athlete of the Month” goes to Nikosi Mc Leish for being very competitive at the two occasions that he raced in February.
For the female “Athlete of the Month” for the month February we saw a fine performance from Suzanna Joefield of RHAND in the TTUTA 10K, in a time of 54.46 which placed her fist among the females from the financial services sector.
Her stiffest competition came from the returning former CariFin Urban Challenge Champion and CariFin cross country
headliner Angela Parris of CLICO who finished in 57.27; a mere 2.81 distance separated them.
The CLICO 5K saw Angela placed 2nd in her age - group in 24.51 a 7.59 pace.
But Suzanna Joefield counteracted with participation in the 26.2 miles version of race (marathon) with a 4.38.19 and placing second in her age-group.
Roll the curtain up for the February CariFin female Athlete of the month Ms. Suzanna Joefield of RHAND.
Rodney Julien finishes ahead of Nikosi Mc Leish at City of Port of Spain 4 K
Rodney Julien, was second placed finisher to Nikosi Mc Leish the current CariFin Champion from RBTT Bank, in the 2007 CariFin Cross Country held on Sunday July 8th at Sevilla golf course. However, Julien turned the table on Mc Leish, at City of Port of Spain 4 K on Sunday August 19, 2007.
Let’s not forget that McLeish the current RBTT Bank 5K and CariFin champ, and Julien had won the first 2 races of the CariFin Urban Challenge: the 1-Lap Savannah and Green Mile. McLeish was absent, recovering from injury, and on his return for the 3rd event – the Mini Cross Country, he triumphed over Julien. McLeish had also finished ahead of Julien in all other road events they have participated in for this year. This duo has been racing for approximately 3 years and Julien had bettered McLeish at one race (10K).
With a participation figure of 115 at the very unusual start time of 1.00 pm, the race started at Woodford Square, Port of Spain. In the mid-day heat and humidity, a better prepared and hungrier Rodney Julien finished the 4 K course in a relatively decent time of 11.44 in 8th place and Nikosi Mc Leish in 12.02 in 11th place.
McLeish started ahead, but Julien didn’t take long to catch-up with him in the rather short 4K distance. Julien passed
McLeish quite easily with Mc Leish unable to respond in kind, leaving Julien to savor that sweet feeling of satisfaction of a victory over McLeish for the first time this year.
The overall winner was Curtis Cox, a four-time CariFin winner, who recorded a time of 10.04.
I have one question about the time and distance of this race… when I entered the time and distance in Cool Running pace calculator, I got the pace to be 2.31 and when it was factored to calculate a time for a distance of 5K, the result was a time of 12.35 for a 5K! Well that’s the kind of speed you will expect from a Haile Gebre Selassie. It therefore stands to reason that I should question the distance of that course.
Nikosi of RBTT Bank first among the Financial Institutions at RWTC 5K
Nikosi Mc Leish of RBTT Bank was the highest placed runner from the financial services sector at the RWTC 5K which was held on Sunday March 11, 2007 around the Queen’s Park Savannah. The race started in front of TGIF and went one lap around the Queen’s Park Savannah back to TGIF and made a small loop within the Savannah and to the finish line opposite TGIF.
The race was put on by the Rainbow Warrior Triathlon Club, over 200 runners faced the starter. When the race started at 1.30 pm, the sun was out but obscured by clouds and a slight breeze was blowing across the Savannah which made the going cool for the 5K.
Nikosi made good use of the weather conditions though his time of 20.13 was a bit slower than his CLICO 5K time of 18.57 a few weeks ago, his 10th place overall was quite rewarding at this level.
It good to see that he is keeping at it and improving, it augurs well for his CariFin performance in the next three months. He is that kind of runner that is curious and always wants to learn about the sport and find new ways to improve on his performance.
Now is as good a time as any to remind you of Nikosi pedigree in CariFin – what he did at CariFin 2006.
In the overall cross country event at Sevilla, Nikosi placed second, in the first Urban Challenge – The One Lap Savannah 4th, Green Mile – 2nd, Mini Cross country at The Botanic Garden – 2nd.
CariFin e-news will be looking closely at Nikosi’s performance at all events that he enters for the rest of year.
CariFin e-news questioned Nikosi about his RWTC performance and this is what he had to say.
“I was disappointed with my performance; I was going for better time than 18.57 my CLICO 5K time, though the course seemed fast, the weather wasn’t to my liking and I felt the course longer than a 5K…. But I enjoyed the race”.
