NATIONAL distance runners Chevez Sital and Alika Morgan, both out of Georgetown, ran to impressive victories against their Essequibian counterparts in the annual Damon’s Day road race held  on Wednesday (The day designated as Damon’s Day). When the six-mile race from Capoey to Damon Square, Anna Regina, finally started at 07:15 h after a delay of 90 minutes due to heavy rain, Sital quickly took command of  the situation  and won in 25 minutes two seconds with Desmond Amsterdam and Devon Griffith both of The New Opportunity Corps (NOC) placing second and third respectively.
Sital led the race from start to finish and was never pushed by his competitors and also found very cool and overcast conditions much to his liking, as he easily defeated the  home boys and local favourites Amsterdam and Griffith, both of whom had represented Essequibo in the past few years at the National Athletics Championships.
Baryton Cambridge, Trevor Thomas and Akeem Grant all of The New Opportunity Corps (NOC) placed fourth and sixth respectively.
National and Caribbean 10 km female champion, Morgan, ran to victory in 33 minutes 34 seconds and gained a lead of almost five minutes against the lesser known female racers, all of whom came from NOC.
Keisha Simmons and Sue Moseley, who placed second and third respectively, briefly challenged Morgan for the lead but in weather conditions suited for running Morgan used all her experience and skills to outrun the two and extend her lead.
Amelia Quinton and Sofia Doodnauth were the other two female runners who competed in the race, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Frank Sookram was the only junior racer who took part while Jamal Henry of Bush Lot was the only cyclist in his race. Both were crown champions in their class.
At the end the racers assembled in front of Damon’s Statue where chairman of The African Cultural and Educational Association (ACEA) Ms Desiree Charles give a brief history about the life and struggle of Damon for freedom on the Essequibo Coast and about the part he played in the fight to abolish slavery in Guyana.
She then thanked the athletes for their participation in the race which she noted was the same distance that the slaves undertook during the 1832 Slave Rebellion to meet with the Governor of Essequibo –  from Capoey to Anna Regina.
Ms Charles was loud in her praise for coordinator of the event and member of the youth arm of ACEA, Ms Chenille Bowen.
The winners of the various race categories were presented with medals and trophies along with an undisclosed cash incentive.