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D’Andrade sets sight on Trinidad Marathon
Envisions making 2010 CG qualifying time
Lionel D’Andrade has shifted his focus from what he described as a “not so nice” 2009 to the upcoming CLICO Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon that could be his only 2010 Commonwealth Games (CG) qualifying opportunity.
The Trinidad-based Guyanese distance runner told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that he has in his mind a specific purpose of becoming the country’s leading athlete this year with some dominate regional and international performances.
Lionel D’Andrade
“I have a savannah close to where I live now, so I have a place to train consistently. It is a big year for me and you’re going to see some improvements this year,” D’Andrade noted, prior to his departure for Trinidad early this morning.
The regional distance campaigner admitted that he suffered mixed fortunes last year in an attempt to continue his dominant form from 2008. However, he warned that he is much in the form of his career and will be leaving no stones unturned.
“Last year was not so nice. My body started to run down. I wasn’t really taking my rest as serious as I should have been. After I failed to finish in the top five at OECS, I took much deserved rest and came back to win two 5ks,” he informed.
D’Andrade had placed sixth at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Half Marathon in November, while finishing fourth in the first stage of South American 10k in Guyana and third in the second stage in Suriname.
“I was lacking a lot of things last year and that really affected my focus. People I’ve been beating all year at some small events came back and beat me a big events. I thought that I needed some rest, sort of a break and I took that,” he said.
D’Andrade returned to Guyana for the Holiday Season on the Eve of Christmas and had a strict workout schedule that he claimed to have followed every detail. He said that he was not willing to loose his fitness because he was resting.
“Most of my work was done here for my return to competition in Trinidad. I’d started my preparation for the Trinidad marathon and I have two 5ks before. I have to start small and build, but most of my work was done here,” he reiterated.
The CLICO Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon will be held on January 24 with the winner taking home TT$1M. However, as part of his continued preparation, the local distance athlete will compete in consecutive 5km races.
D’Andrade has a personal best marathon time of 2h 35:00.0 that was done at the Trinidad Marathon in 2008 and repeated in 2009. The Trinidad 26 miles and 385 yards race will be his fourth on the island in this decade after his debut in 2000.
His best place was seventh last year and he will be hard pressed to significantly run under the 2h 22:14.00 required as entrance for the marathon at Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India from October 3-14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
“I should run better in the Trinidad Marathon this year because I will put in the work with Kelvin (Johnson). I am feeling strong and after this week I will be concentrating on doing a lot of mileage and hour runs and that should be good,” he said.
With no other prominent marathons, following the Trinidad event, before the April 25-July 12 qualifying window, D’Andrade believes that he will run the time needed and will be in a position to definitely make his international debut.
(Edison Jefford)
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