00:00On Sunday, distance runner Nicholas Romany defended his title by beating Kenyan Alex
00:05Ikisa over the 15k distance at the Eastern Credit Union Road Race.
00:09The 29-year-old indicated this was a special victory for him as he answered his critics
00:14who doubted his ability to dominate in longer races.
00:17It was really emotional for me because people were saying that I could only beat him in
00:24shorter distances.
00:25They were saying longer distances is his better event and I can't beat him in longer distances.
00:32I just wanted to prove something to myself and prove something to people that I could,
00:37if I really pushed myself, I could dominate in the longer races as well.
00:42For context, in 2023, Alex Ikisa got the better of Romany at the We Run Arima Half Marathon
00:48and the South American 10k in Guyana.
00:51But Romany bounced back by winning the USPEC Half Marathon.
00:55The 41-year-old Ikisa has also won the Barbados Marathon and the Trinidad and Tobago International
01:01Marathon this year.
01:02Therefore, the race was expected to be close over the near 16km Eastern Credit Union Road
01:07Race.
01:08Romany believes his victory came down to his speed.
01:11Every time we race against each other, especially in longer races, he knows of my speed.
01:18So he always tries to open as much distance as possible so I won't be able to catch him
01:24back.
01:25It almost worked today to be honest but I just trust in myself, trust in my speed and
01:32I just push really hard and catch him for the last 400 metres of the race.
01:37So what's the likelihood of Romany taking on Ikisa over the marathon distance?
01:41The marathon is a lot of work to put in and my schedule is hard for me because the amount
01:50of mileage I have to put in to run a good marathon, I would need time off of work and
01:55I don't have that time.
01:57So I wouldn't go up to the marathon.
01:59It seems as though their next race promises to be one to look out for.
02:03Sergio Dufort, TV6 Sport.
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