Guyanese Reuben Stoby, ran his personal best to capture the Ceres Juices 10 series race last Saturday in Road Town, Tortola BVI, finishing at Watering Hole, to cop a successful year in local road racing.Sponsored by Nagico Insurances, Stoby has had a successful year winning the Dive BVI 10K series, the Blenheim Trust 5K series, where he was crowned the All Comers Champion, placed second in the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon, crowned Highland Spring College Classic Series 2-Mile Champion and now the Ceres Juices 10K Champion.
The Guyanese journalist romped to a comfortable win in the final race of the series, which took runners from just outside Banco Popular to a turnaround at Struggling Man in Sea Cows Bay, with a Personal Best of 37:50.04. Vincent Fournier, running for the first time competitively on the course, came second in 37:57.47 and Julius Farley finished third in a time of 38:51.36.
According to reports Stoby led from start to finish and had opened up a huge lead on his main challengers Fournier and Farley, however, on the return Fournier began to eat into the lead and came to within some 20 metres of Stoby, who was able to switch gears for a sprint finish to win comfortably and in one of the fastest 10k times in the territory.
Stoby said he was happy with the personal best run and stated, “I am so happy about that. I ran 38:23 in training on the course so I knew I could break into 37 minutes.”
He continued, “I was worried about the heat ahead of the race, but the conditions turned out to be good and then I was pushed to a fast time by Vincent Fournier. It was a good race and sets me up nicely for the BVI Half Marathon later in the year.”
According to Stoby, who challenges the clock instead of his opponents: “It’s not easy to run out front and run fast times so it’s always good to have competition. However, I never know who will show up for a race here so I just set myself goal times and work towards that.”
He now will focus on the 10th BVI Sunrise Half Marathon on December 5, and is eager to face Shane DeGannes of the USVI and possibly Pamenos Ballantyne of St Vincent and the Grenadines. “I fancy myself to run a fast time. I respect those two guys but I also believe in myself and my ability.”