TWENTY-five-year-old Marlon Nicholson ran the race of his dreams to stun a chequered field in the South American 10k which was organised by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) on Sunday.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) athlete was not in most pundits’ preview for a podium finished but he certainly will be remembered for his courageous run.
He clocked thirty-three minutes, 27.80 seconds, with Missigher (33:38.30s) and Audwin Tudor (33:39.30s) having a close finish for the other two podium spots.
Thomas (34:33.30s) and Ronell Newton (35:54.60s) rounded off the top five.
Speaking to the media after the stunning run, Nicholson revealed that he reached out to fellow GDF athlete and multiple-winner of the South American 10k, Cleveland Forde for advice in his first attempt of the race.
“He [Forde] was like son be patient, it is all about patience, and I held my composure and waited for my turn and what he told me to do, came out as a victory for me.”
With just over a month in preparation, Nicholson said as the race got closer, he got nervous that he could not do it, but he still managed to pull through.
On the female side, Linden’s Sheama Tyrell (41:16.09s) once again dominated to win quite a distance ahead of Aliyah Headly (45:33.00s), Assatta Eastman (48:29.02s), Tia Azore (50:53.06s) and Delicia Tinnis (52:35.09s).
The top finishers in the senior male and female categories secured a winner’s prize of US$1,000 with second place claiming US$600 and third US$400 along with genuine medals.
Meanwhile, the time of junior athlete Adriel Austin (45:32.03) would have placed her second in the senior female category, as she made light work of the Girls’ age 16-19 category, likewise did Matthew Gordon (35:04.30s) in the Boys division.
Francis King (39:08.08s) and Tanika Jones (51:24:09s) were the leading Masters athletes.
The race started on Carifesta Avenue close to the GTT Earth Station and proceeded along the East Coast Highway for a turn at the University of Guyana entrance then to the National Park for a finish at the Children’s monument.