THIS?YEAR’S?PowerAde Run Barbados Series will be remembered for the double success of Kenyan-born Richardo Kessio, who represented Canada, and first-time American competitor Jess Petersson in last Saturday’s 10K and Sunday’s half-marathon.
Fellow Kenyans Sammy Kidlagat and Silas Kisorio among the men and yet another Kenyan, women’s half-marathon queen Leah Kigen, were indeed a cut above the other participants in the two major races.
Whereas the Barbadian competitors were shut out of Top 5 positions in the two major events, the 10K and half-marathon, they more than held their own in the shorter races like the 5K, 3K and Fun-Mile.
Jerome Blackett was the first local runner to finish both the 10-K and half-marathon.
Blackett must be commended for his performance as he conceded that his preparation was marred by injuries and he didn’t get to put in half the amount of training necessary.
Even so, his target for next year must be to bring down his 35:43 time to a sub-33 clocking if he wants to get into the Top 5 in the 10K and challenge the Caribbean competitors like Jamaicans Shawn Pitter, Kirk Brown and Rupert Green and Guyanese Cleveland Forde.
There were also commendable performances from teenagers Joshua Hunte, who returned a time of 36.47, and Dario Grandison (38.54).
Grandison, who won Friday night’s Fun Mile in 4:40 minutes from his Pacers clubmate Hakeem Newton, also competed in the 5K on Sunday.
He was second to Raheem Skinner, who won in 16.44, with Akeem Marshall, Saturday’s 3K winner, third.
Carlie Pipe won the women’s section of the Fun Mile but was upstaged in the half-marathon by Dominique Marshall, who was the first Bajan woman to finish and third overall in 1:32.29. Pipe was the fifth woman to finish in 1:37.21
Local girl Elizabeth Williams won the hearts of spectators with her never-say-die attitude in the 5K. She chased defending champion Sarah Williams to the finish line with a sustained sprint from the traffic lights at Bay Street to finish second in 20.18 minutes. (EZS)
