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Forde withstands Trinidadians to win SA 10k race
– Nero shows class among women
By Edison Jefford
Notwithstanding a lower abdomen and thigh injury, local distance running ace, Cleveland Forde held the IAAF South American (SA) 10km Road Race hostage in the final 100m yesterday when he sprinted to his third consecutive title on home soil.
The prize winners from the 10th edition of the IAAF South American 10km Road Race pose with officials from the Athletics Association of Guyana and other stakeholders yesterday.
Forde withstood a strong challenge from the hostile Trinidadians, who ganged up on him in the last 400m of the race, to successfully defend his title. He won overall in 33:35.0 with Trinidad taking the next three spots among the financial prizes up for grabs.
Seasoned campaigner and last year’s fourth place finisher, Richard Jones, was second in the race in 33:38, while Trinidadian teammates, Mathew Hagley and Curtis Cox, finished third and fourth in 33:42 and 33:52 respectively. Dennis Horatio (34:48) was fifth.
In the female international race, Trinidad’s trump card, Tonya Nero comfortably sailed to the top of the podium in 38:06, while Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal was second in 43:10; Ashanti Scott kept Guyana’s pride among the top three with her 44:21 third place. Dixie-Ann Nelson took the fourth position for Tobago with her 56:53 time.
There has not been a time in the history of the race that Forde was made to work harder for a win than yesterday. Nathaniel ‘Brother’ Giddings enforced early pressure on the field in strong windy conditions and sweltering heat that made the course difficult.
Following the start of the race at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, Giddings along with Devon Barrington jumped out to a an early lead, forcing Guyana’s Cleveland Thomas, Forde and Dennis Horatio into a second pack that also included the Trinidadians.
The formation remained the same until Giddings and Cox assumed about a 50m lead on the same trailing-pack at the 7km mark; then, in a burst of pace, Cox dropped Giddings, heading into the 8km mark on Vlissingen Road to become a solo-leader of the marquee race.
With 1km left in the race, Forde left himself an unimaginable burden, battling between Jones and Hagley from Trinidad with Cox about 10m ahead of them. Trinidad’s genuine team-racing battle was enforced, but Forde was equally up to the task.
The most successful South American 10km Road Race athlete, Forde entered Police Sports Club amid three Trinidadians after they had made up the distance with Cox. Forde shifted gear with an unprecedented 100m left to secure his third title in the local stage.
Giddings finished fifth overall, but competed in the junior race. He won that category in 34:33 as Devon Barrington (36:40) was second; Grivon Grant (36:49) third; Colvis Saul (36:54) fourth and Chavez Sital (39:40) fifth. Surprisingly, Rupununi’s Samuel Caitan was not among the top five athletes.
Likewise, in the junior female race, Jevina Straker turned the tables on Doretta Wilson, finishing first in 44:55. Wilson was second in 45:30, while Adama Roberts was third in 45:43; Shenika Chapman was fourth in 49:32.
Alisha Fortune won the women 35-60 years race in 54:39 with Cyrleen Phillips second in 55:56. Ian Archibald (41:25) was first in the male 40-55 race with Robert McRae (42:11) second and Lindon Harrison (44:41) third. Joseph Jardine (47:20) was fourth. Llewellyn Gardner was first in the male 56-80 race in 41:36 with Maurice Fagundes (52:02) second and Ivelaw Henry (58:27) third. All of the aforementioned winners received trophies and cash prizes.
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