More than 1,000 participate in ‘hot’ Steps for Hope 2026

By Lara Pickford-Gordon

snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org

The Catholic News’ third annual Steps for Hope Race continues to grow in numbers and interest with 984 people completing the 5K Fun Run/Walk this year compared with 709 last year.

First-time participant in the 5K, Stephon Gould, won the race in 16:37, shaving off two seconds from last year’s winning time. Gould was first overall among the 328 males finishing while 11-year-old Genesis Marchan, the 22nd finisher, was first overall among the 654 females.

The horn sounded at 4 p.m. and hundreds took off on a course which took them from St Mary’s College (CIC) Grounds on Serpentine Road, around the Queen’s Park Savannah, along Hayes Street and back to the finish line. Sixty-four runners completed the course within 30:09. It was a sweltering day with the heat index forecast at 35˚C, plus mild Sahara dust. Weather conditions were not the focus for Gould who sped to finish. “It was a hot day…well, l just put in my mind just to go out dey [sic], run the best I could run, and to come [in] as low as time could be for me. Yes, it was heated but I was just keeping focused on completing the race”.

The Arima resident said he felt good winning the race in 16:37 because he recently resumed running in February after a three-year pause. He trains for 5K and 1500M races.

Before Steps for Hope, he took part in Raw Fitness’ 5K placing second and came first in a 5K in Mayaro. Gould said: “I challenged myself. You know one of my biggest things is not the competition against whosoever but my enemy in any race is time.” He added, “I know as time goes by, I can do better than this [16:37] but the race was good”. His aim was to complete the race in “low 15 [minute]. His best time was 15 minutes and some seconds. Placing second was Jacob O’Reilly, a student and footballer with Naparima College in a time of 19:29, and third was Luke Williams, 19:39.

Marchan said she felt a “great honour” representing her school St Gabriel’s Girls’ RC and Girl Guide division. An avid runner for the past two years, she said confidently, “I’ve realised over the past year, I’ve gotten way better so the practice has really paid off for me to reach the point that I am today”. Marchan shared that she was running in the Eastern Credit Union 5K the next day, Sunday, May 10.

In the 1K Fun Run/Walk, Micah Hector, from the St Joseph RC, Scarborough parish, and student of St Joseph RC Primary, Tobago, placed first in a time of 3:21. He was followed by Ty Ransome in a time of 3:35, and Kaleb Williams 3:48. The first female crossing and placing fourth was Brooke De Freitas 3:50. There were 69 finishers: 41 male and 28 female.

Over 700 participants registered to represent their parish. The Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando emerged as the top parish with 90 participants. They dethroned 2024-2025 top parish, St Paul’s Couva, and Santa Rosa RC, was third.

Among the running enthusiasts were staffers from the Belmont Pastoral Campus: Darendra Boodram, programme coordinator, Samaritan Movement, who topped his age group; Catholic Religious Education Development Institute (CREDI) administrative assistant Djivan Thomas; Taye Coryat, programme officer, Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) and Triston Gollop, programme coordinator, AFLC. Other running enthusiasts were: Catholic News (CN) Editor Raymond Syms, and CN Graphic Designer, Aadel Chin-Albert. Clergy and Religious were represented by Fr Matthew Martinez OP and Fr Mikkel Trestrail, who ran with assistance, and Carmelite Sisters Ann Joachim Jackson, Sarah Waterman, and Anne Marie Bain.

A bonus at this year’s event was the performances by Darryl ‘Farmer Nappy’ Henry during the race warm up and Destra Garcia at the race village in the interlude before prize giving.

Keeping racers upbeat as they traversed the route were cheerleaders Holy Name Convent, Port of Spain, and a rhythm section from Presentation College, San Fernando, positioned along Flood Street outside Archbishop’s House, and Fatima College’s rhythm section at the entrance of the race village.

A cool-down truck was waiting for runners after they crossed the finish line and at the race village giveaways and free refreshments including doubles, and corned beef and rice were distributed. The race medal featured an image of Archbishop’s House and runners could get their medals engraved with their finishing times.

The Catholic News thanks all sponsors and stakeholders contributing to a successful and memorable day.