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'Covid' stalls UWI SPEC half-Marathon
POPULAR INTERNATIONAL EVENT: In this flashback photo, Venezuela's Yeisy Alvarez wins the First Citizens UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon women's title, crossing the finish line outside UWI SPEC in St Augustine, in one hour, 17 minutes, 59 seconds on October 23, 2016.

'Covid' stalls UWI SPEC half-Marathon

Go Back : Express : Sports Desk : 25.09.2020

The 2020 edition of the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon has officially been called off, just about ending any hopes home-based distance runners might have entertained of getting in any competitive action for the rest of the year.

Confirmation came yesterday in the form a news release from The University of the West Indies, stating it regretted having to inform the public that the event had been cancelled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We understand the disappointment that the participants may feel having put many hours of training towards this event, but cancelling this year's Half-Marathon and four x 5K relay is necessary to protect all involved," the release quoted Professor Funso Aiyejina - Head of the St Augustine Academy of Sport. "The health and safety of all our stakeholders remain our number one priority. We are hopeful that 2021 would present a much safer scenario than the one being faced now for us to return for the 17th edition of the race."

Professor Aiyejina also expressed sincere gratitude to presenting sponsor, First Citizens, for their partnership and contributions to the success of the race over the years. He added that the organising committee would use the downtime to brainstorm and plan for a bigger and better return next year.

A flyer advertising the cancellation read, "It would have been a marvellous sight to behold 1,700 persons on the Priority Bus Route this October."

The annual UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon is a long-standing national sporting event that has attracted athletes from different parts of the globe. The event experienced some positive achievements in 2019, including the recording its highest-ever number of participants. Over 1,550 persons registered hours before the deadline.

For the past two years, the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon had also seen the successful addition of a four x 5K relay race component, as well as a tyre relay.