The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ONEIL Williams lowered his own Bahamas national record in the men's marathon when he competed in the fourth edition of the Eldoret City Marathon in Kenya on Sunday.

Williams, who has been training in Africa for the past decade, clocked two hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds for 56th out of a field of 193 competitors, who completed the gruelling 42.197 kilometre (26.2 miles) race.

The winning time was 2:13:10 by Victor Kipchirchir Rotich of Kenya.

With his performance, Williams erased his Bahamian national record of 2:29.26 that he established on October 20, 2019 at the Amsterdam Marathon in the Netherlands.

"It was tough. It was one of the hardest races that I ever did," Williams said. "The condition was very hot and it was windy, but I guess with all my training, I just pulled through."

Williams, 39, said the national record feat made up for all of the hard work and training.

"It's been a long time coming. With no support, I was just glad that I was able to get another national record," he said. "Hopefully I will be able to get on the Bahamas Government subvention.

"When you consider what I did, I did it with a high attitude and so when you convert the time, it's really faster than what it really is. So I think my training is going quite well right now."

There is another marathon scheduled for Amsterdam in October and Williams is hoping to go back there and see if he can lower the national record once again. This would be the seventh marathon he has run since 2019.

"I am going to continue with my morning workouts, doing my speed workout and long runs. Nothing is going to change," Williams said. "Training is going well, but I still need that financial support.

"I am hoping that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture can put me on the government subvention because this is a milestone so that I can get some help with my training."