RUNNING Braves Athletic Club’s Winston Messigher and Claudrice McKay have won the male and female open categories of the Professional Key Shop/Windjammers organised `Golden Mile’ road race which was staged yesterday afternoon in Georgetown.Messigher who seems to be in good nick at the moment, returned four minutes 33.2 seconds for the one-mile event, while his club mate McKay clocked five minutes 39.3 seconds for the distance.
The race started a bit late and moved off from the Club 704 Lounge, Albert and Lamaha Streets and proceeded west along Lamaha Street before turning south to finish at the Professional Key Shop on Carmichael Street.
After being sent on their way, the more than 60 starters jostled for positions, but Messigher, second- place finisher Cleveland Thomas, Anfree Headaker, Devon Barrington and Samuel distanced themselves from the pack and opened a sizeable lead.
As the front- runners approached Camp and Lamaha Streets, Messigher and Thomas broke from the others and opened a 200-metre lead on the others and increased the pace of the race. However, with approximately 200 metres remaining, Missigher changed gear and crossed the finish line approximately 75 metres ahead of Thomas.
McKay was in the chasing pack by this time and was the first female to cross the finish line, some 200 metres behind Thomas.
Quacy Morian placed third among the male open runners, while Devon Barrington finished fourth.
Kezra Scott was second to McKay in the open female category, while Ashanti Scott and Jabeta Bowman placed third and fourth respectively.
In the male veterans’ category, A. Hadeka was first. Second was M. Davidson and finishing third was Linden Phillips.
Cerlene Phillips won the female veterans’ category ahead of Carla Benjamin and Carla Adams respectively. Missigner received $50,000, while the second, third and fourth-place finishers earned $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The top four finishers of the female open category received $30,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The winners of the masters’ male and female categories received $20,000, $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
The top four juniors also received prizes (no cash).
Among the sponsors who contributed to the successful staging of the event were: Impressions, E-Networks, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Oasis Café, Star Party Rentals, Colours Boutique, SOL Café, Ansa McAl and Two Brothers Service Station.