Guyanese dominate Antiguan PM 10k Race

Oct 13, 2009 Sports

Forde, Morgan repeat wins, Straker finishes second

Alika Morgan

Jevina Straker

By Edison Jefford
Cleveland Forde and Alika Morgan ensured that the Golden Arrowhead flutter in Antigua and Barbuda Sunday afternoon when they respectively outclassed their rivals to run away with both titles in the Prime Minister’s 10km Road Race.
CARIFTA Games’ 1500m gold medallist, Jevina Straker placed second in the Women’s race to assure the Guyanese three premier places in the event overall. Forde and Morgan were in demolition mode after winning the race last year.
Forde out-sprinted Caribbean rival, St Vincent and Grenadines’ Pamenos Ballantyne with a time of 34.35 seconds while Ballantyne returned 34.37 for a close finish. Morgan got a major boost from team-mate, Straker in the race.
Kaieteur Sport could not ascertain the names of the third place finishers and official times for the Women’s race. When contacted yesterday, Forde told this newspaper that he was a bit surprised over the disorganisation of the event.
“They were a bit disorganised. It wasn’t a perfect race… I did not fight up with that, I just went out there and took it as any normal race,” Forde indicated adding that the race began in sweltering sun around 3pm Sunday afternoon.
The race finished before 4pm but this newspaper could not find results in the

Cleveland Forde

Antigua Sun, which is the one of the country’s leading newspapers. However, Forde confided that he had some difficulties with the hilly race course.
“It was hilly as usual but I just went through with it to assess my training. I felt good after I won-it told me that I am on the right track. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and I will get to where I am suppose to be,” Forde said.
The triple South American and CARICOM 10k champion had informed that he will be using the PM race as part of his warm-up for the upcoming South American race, which is to be held here on October 24 and in Suriname a week later.
Meanwhile, Morgan, who was plagued with an injury since the CARIFTA Games earlier this year, will welcome the results in the PM race, which is a welcome return to form that will build her confidence ahead of the South American race.