LEDGERS TO DEFEND MARATHON TITLE IN TRINIDAD

MORE than $200,000 will be up for grabs when the 26th Annual Clico T&T International Marathon takes off at the Mid-Centre Mall in Chaguanas on Sunday beginning at 5.30 am.

More than 300 runners are expected to assemble for the 26.2 mile run from Central Trinidad to west of the Capital City in Mucarapo.

The men's and women's champions will each earn $25,200 while an extra $12,000 will be offered to the athlete who breaks the current national marathon record time (men: 2:13:04, women: 3:01:23).

The marathon continues to be one of the most anticipated sporting events in the region, attracting runners from Africa, Europe, North and South Americas and the Caribbean. Growing public interest in the event led to the addition of a 5K Fun Run Race in 2000.

Last year's race saw St Lucian Victor Ledger cross the line at the front of the heap in 2:23:52. Competing for the first time since his championship run in 1996, Ledger left in his wake seven time champ Pamenos Ballantyne (2:30:31) and 2005 winner Curtis Cox (2:35:07).

US based Nigerian Mary Akor made it two years in a row when she completed the course in 2:45:37. Contrary to her tense 18 second edge over Poland's Joanna Gront-Chmeil in 2006, she finished last year's race nearly half-an-hour ahead of T&T's Ruth Metevier.

The race, one of the few certified marathons in the Caribbean, offers athletes the prospect of working towards Olympic qualification.