Written By Michael DaSilva
GUYANA’s Cleveland `Little Kenyan’ Forde ruled the roost yesterday, when the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) staged the first leg of the 11th edition of the South American 10K Classic.
Forde who crossed the finish line unchallenged, stopped the clock at 32 minutes 36 seconnds, finishing by more than 75 metres ahead of Grenada’s Sherwin Paul (32:49.10) and more than 100 metres ahead of third place finisher Kelvin McKenzie (33:23.30).Guyana’s top female distance runner Alika Morgan found the going a bit tough yesterday and had to settle for second behind Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal who returned a winning time of 42 minutes, 28.80 seconds. Morgan’s time was 42 minutes, 35.50 seconds, while Jevina Straker of Guyana placed third (43:18.30).
Speaking to Chronicle Sport after his victory, Forde said the race was a tough one as he underestimated his opposition.
He said while the sun was not at its peak, the place was very humid and he had to change his pre-race tactic.
He said on the upward journey from the GT&T Earth Station on Carifesta Avenue to the University of Guyana road (the turn back point) there was an inter changing of the lead by the front runners and this was the pattern on the downward journey.
But he made his move as he entered the National Park for the final 400 yards or so and was unchallenged to the end.
This is the fifth consecutive year that Forde has won the first leg of the South American 10k and he plans to make it six in a row next year.
According to Forde, his best time for any of the three legs in the South American 10Ks is 30 minutes 38 which he recorded in Panama in 2011. That year he placed second overall in the three-leg race.
In the junior category, Carl Mckenzie was first among the boys (37:43.70) while Kevin Nicolas placed second (31:09.90) and Leon Benjamin third (40:34.90).
In the girls division, Cassie Kirton (47:02.00) was first, Shauntelle Hinds (51:15.10) second and Euodia Porte (59:48.10) third.
Alisha Fortune (51:29.30) won the women’s masters category in 51 minutes 29.30 seconds. Second was Cyrleen Phillips (52:32.40) and third was Carla Benjamin (53:57.50).
Llewellyn Gardner won the men’s masters’ 56 years and over in a time of 41 minutes 46.50 seconds. Second was Ravi Purohit (49:18.60 and third was Maurice Fagundes (52:56.04).
Eon Archibald won the masters 40-55 years age group in a time of 40 minutes 29.50 seconds ahead of Orin Josiah (43:18.20) and Herald Warde (44:30.10), respectively.
Meanwhile, the second leg of the South American Classic which was scheduled for Suriname on Saturday has been put back by one week for reasons unknown.
The third leg in Panama remains on the same date as was previously announced.