Defending marathon champion Robert Kessio warmed up for today’s main event with a run-away victory in the Powerade Run Barbados 10K, while Janet Cherobon-Bawcom won back-to-back titles in the women’s race yesterday.
Overcast and cloudy skies gave way to sunshine, without the oppressive humidity from last year.
Kessio of Kenya sprinted up Bay Street in a winning time of 30:15 minutes, pulling away from Canadian Matt Loiselle (30:28) who had kept pace with him all along the route to Broad Street.
American Simon Sawe was third in 31:06, with Jamaican Shawn Pitter (31:31) and Cleveland Forde (32:47) of Guyana completing the top five.
Jerome Blackett was 11th overall and the first Barbadian male, lowering his time from last year’s 35:04.
“It went pretty alright for me, much more competition this time.
I did my personal best today. I ran 34:47 after doing the Mile last night.
“I came second in the Mile in 4 minutes, 44 seconds,” Blackett said.
“I was mostly aiming for a personal best, to get under 35 minutes, and I did it as planned.”
American Cherobon-Bawcom is no stranger to Barbados, having won her first 10K title back in 2007 in 34:03. Yesterday, she successfully defended the title she won last year in 33:42 minutes, the fastest time in more than a decade.
Canadian Megan Brown was second in 34:22 and another Kenyan, Leah Kigen, was third in 35:48.
National 800 metres record holder Sheena Gooding strapped on her fun shoes and was the first local female to cross the tape in 44.43, 40th overall.
It was clear the winner would come from the five-man breakaway which included Kessio, Kenyan Stephen Tanui who soon disappeared, Pitter, Sawe and Loiselle as Blackett fell back when the pace got too hot.
They ran four-abreast along the Princess Alice Highway before Pitter was dropped approaching Spring Garden Highway.
As they approached the turning point near Workbench Furniture, the clock showed 15:26 and eventual wheelchair winner Wesley Worrell was caught and passed by Kessio, Loiselle and Sawe.
By the time they reached Esso Holborne, Cherobon-Bawcom, Brown and Kigen were on the opposite side of the highway, preparing to make the loop. Barbadians Gooding and Amanda Maximilien were a few hundred metres behind.
Sawe was soon left behind as they reached Fontabelle, and it was a question of tactics to decide how Kessio and Loiselle would be separated.
Loiselle tested his opponent with a sprint approaching Broad Street but Kessio responded quickly to shut it down.
When Kessio made his own sprint in front of Cave Shepherd in The City, Loiselle had no answer and the Kenyan took full control of the race across the Charles Duncan O’Neal Bridge and along Bay Street to the finish by the Esplanade.
Kessio said after the race that he used the 10K to test himself, but he believes he is in good shape to challenge the course record in today’s marathon.
“I enjoyed it. It was nice,” he said.
Cherobon-Bawcom has been enjoying a great season and this race was no different.
She won three national titles in the United States (10K, 10-mile and 20K) before coming to Barbados. With a personal best 10K time to boast of in 2011, she lowered her time by almost a full minute.
“This was a realy good tune-up. I was surprised I ran the course record, but it was good. I felt good.
“Overall, everything has been an improvement. I think I am on a very good road preparing for Houston and the Olympic trials,” she said.
This is in stark contrast to Gooding who has retired from international competition and was just doing it for fun.
She said the second half of the race was tougher, but the support along Fontabelle and Broad Street was very good.
