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Forde brings home the bacon
– wins third consecutive SA 10k
By Edison Jefford
Cleveland Forde ran a tactical and well paced race yesterday that brought home the bacon for the third straight year in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) South American (SA) 10km Road Race outside YMCA.
Cleveland Forde
Forde was very strategic before breaking from Brazil’s, Eliesio Da Silva around the Park entrance down the homestretch to win in 33:27.3 as DaSilva finished in 33:40.5; Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Jones was third in 33:41.6.
The win made Forde the most successful IAAF South American 10km Road Race runner after also winning in 2006 and last year. He did not compete in the gruelling race in 2007 but was second in 2005 and third the year before.
Guyana’s Lionel D’Andrade and Dennis Horatio sealed the top five in that order with the former finishing in 34:03.2 and the latter 34:09.3 in the Open Male International race that brought out a sizeable and appreciative crowd.
Forde also won the CARICOM 10km Road Race and Antiguan Prime Minister’s 10km Road Race to mark a very dominant year on the road. He has relegated St Vincent and the Grenadines’ distance star, Ballantyne to his shadow.
Ballantyne finished in a disappointing 11th place in the race. He told reporters that he had hamstring problems and could not risk an injury ahead of the UWI Half Marathon that is scheduled for this weekend in Trinidad and Tobago.
Alika Morgan was the first Guyanese female to cross the finish line behind winner of that version of the race, Brazilian Sueli Vieira (38:20.6). Morgan ran 40:23.8 while Trinidad’s Shermin Lasaldo finished third with a 40:46.5 time.
Sueli Vieira
Suriname’s Llsida Toemere was fourth in 43:12.0 while local athlete Ashanti Scott sealed the top five in the Open Women International race with 43:32.0. The top five finishers in both male and female races received cash prizes.
The male pack ran together and played cat-and-mouse until the 5km mark with Forde the most comfortable, tucked in the middle of a lead five-man pack that included D’Andrade, Da Silva, Horatio and Jones before it was strung out.
Forde and DaSilva left others from the front pack when they entered Thomas Road on the way back to the finish. Forde jumped the Brazilian around the National Park and sprinted to the finish line to end a clinical 10k performance.
“It was good, not as fast and competitive as I expected; there was a lot of breeze going up but still I had hoped it could have been faster. It wasn’t that challenging, it was a planned race,” Forde told Kaieteur Sport following his victory.
He said that while he was not really focused on the clock he was expecting a greater push because he had the leisure of deciding when to make his move. In more challenging races those are not privileges that competitors enjoy.
“I was like: I am going to go now in my mind and I just left him (Da Silva). I was glad to have so many international athletes in the race and so many people supporting me on the way. I hope it is bigger next year,” Forde indicated.
He is expected to compete in the second stage of the race in Suriname this weekend while Morgan is also scheduled for Guyana’s eastern neighbour. She reported about 90 percent fit when Kaieteur Sport spoke with her briefly yesterday.
“I am about 90 percent fit. The race was not bad for me because I ran with her (Brazilian) up to like 3 or 4km. I am getting there. Definitely I am going to Suriname,” Morgan said, following her recovery path after a serious injury earlier this year.
The leading female distance runner was visibly happy about her win against CARICOM 10km winner, Lasaldo, who placed third in the race. Her injury had kept her from leading a serious challenging at the event that was held here.
Chavez Sital won the Boys’ 16-18 category in 35:28.4 with Jonathan Fagundes (36:25.9) second and Nathaniel Giddings (37:58.6) third. Jevina Straker won the Girls’ version in 42:44.0 with Jenella Jonas (44:09.0) second and Rayana Williams (47:44.0) third.
Quinn George claimed the Boys’ 18-20 race in 35:09.2 with Jamal Chisholm second in a 36:07.8 time and Kevin Bailey third in 36:22.4. Shemicka Gordon 51:41.0 won the Girls’ category with Daescia Junor second in 52:14.0.
Llewellyn Gardner topped the Masters’ field in 39:32 with Maurice Fagundes second in a 47:15.0 time and Curtis Archer third in 50:49.0. Only Guyanese athletes competed in the various other categories of the 7th IAAF South American 10k.
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