-Missinger finishes second after gruelling battle

By Faizool Deo
KENYAN runners Alex Ekesa and Veronica Jepkosgei were able to march through a large field of local and several international athletes in the scorching afternoon sun to win the male and female divisions of the Guyana leg in the South American 10K Road Race yesterday afternoon in Georgetown.

A battle between first-leg winner Winston Missinger (Guyana) and Ekesa highlighted the race, which moved off from the GTT Earth Station on Carifesta Avenue, proceeded east to the University of Guyana junction before the runners headed west back up the Rupert Craig Highway, into Vlissengen Road and turned into Thomas Road for a finish in the National Park.

Ekesa, who will celebrate his 40th birthday in the coming weeks, paced the race from start to finish. Cleveland Thomas (second in the first leg) and GDF’s Tyshon Bentinck attempted to stay with the Kenyan in front early but soon the leading pack was trimmed.

Guyanese Nathaniel Giddings then took the lead with Ekesa, while several runners stayed just behind, including Missinger, who was comfortable in the middle of the first pack with Jonathan Fagundes (third in the first leg), Trinidadians Matthew Hagley and Shirvan Baboolal and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Junior Ashton.

By the turn at the UG’s junction, the runners were separated and the battle between Ekesa and Missinger began. Giddings attempted to stay with the pack and for some time, he was third, but then the Trinidadian pair caught him.
Baboolal, who fell at the junction, was able to recover well and soon it was the Trinidadians who were battling for third. Although Hagley attempted to reach the leaders, Ekesa and Missinger were too fast.

Missinger, who later said that he was looking to keep up with the Kenyan until the final 800M so that he could sprint to the finish line, was able to partially execute his plan.
The visiting runner was too strong and just before the 8K mark, he broke free of the Guyanese.

Missinger’s finishing pace was obvious in the end, but he could not catch the Kenyan. According to the official timings, Ekesa finished in 32 minutes and 43 seconds, while second place Missinger finished in 32 minutes and 57 seconds.

Trinidadians Hagley and Baboolal crossed the line third and fourth respectively, while Ashton finished fifth.

Jepkosgei, who finished 13th overall, beat off the other females in the race. She finished ahead of St Vincent’s Linda Mc Dowall and Guyanese Abidemi Charles.

Since Ekesa did not take part in the first leg of the 10K, Missinger is still in the lead of the three-leg competition.
He is hoping to take part in the final leg, which is slated for Panama.