jun.30.2010

Guyanese Lionel Dandrage was the winner of the local leg of the Olympic Day Run last Saturday in Port-of-Spain. Dandrage was swiftest to the St Clair Avenue finish line opposite the Queen’s Park Oval in the main event which took the runners twice around King George V Park. He clocked seven minutes, 13 seconds. Triathlon champion, Clarence Tobias placed second just three seconds adrift Dandrage in 7:16. Veteran Kenrick Williams held his own for third in 7:26 which was the same time recorded by fourth finisher Cantius Thomas. Fifth was Joel Bharat (7:27), sixth was Ancil Green (7:40) and seventh was Garth Roberts (8:37).

The consistent Paulette Lucess copped first place among the females clocking 8:59. Melissa Collins placed second in 9:23 and Jennie Petersen was third in 9:52. The other placings were: fourth Cheryl Baggoo (11:53), fifth Amelia Lucess (12:31), sixth Joanne Boopsingh (16:22) and seventh Leean Ramdass (17:20). In previous years the Olympic Run took the form of a relay. With the new format this year, there were age-group races where runners made one lap of George V Park. In the Under-16 One-Lap, the top three males were Arion James (3:56), Alvin Rambarran (3:57) and Darren Stewart (4:09), while the top females were Makeba Bennett (5:49) and Natasha Persad (5:54).

The top three males in the Under-19 Category were Avinash Rambarran (3:34), Shaquille Scott (3:49) and Neil Rambarran (4:03) while the talented distance runner Abiane Collymore (4:15) was the only female. In the Over-50 One-Lap, former marathoner Gregory Quesnel led the way home in 4:39 followed by Errol Harripersad (5:24) and Keith Warren (5:27). The top three women were Yvonne Arthur (5:18), Patricia Green (6:28) and Margaret Wong Chong (6:52). In a special Wheel Chair One-Lap, Kwasi Diaz secured victory in 5:19, Donnel Reyes was second in 5:35 and Horace Govia placed third in 5:53.