Latest update May 10th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 13, 2012 Sports
By Edison Jefford
Undoubtedly one of the Caribbean’s leading distance runners, Cleveland Forde showed his class yesterday at the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Cross Country race when he cruised to what became an unchallenged victory before an impressive audience.
Forde successfully defended his title over the 8km distance in a time of 24.21, leaving his closest rival, Cleveland Thomas one minute behind in 25.21. Dennis Horatio, who has memorable 800m victory against Forde in Linden last year, had 26.15 for third place.
Forde did not look under pressure at any stage in the race; he even allowed Thomas to dictate the pace early in the contest while he kept his composure about 10m behind. Forde, who is the most successful South American 10km athlete in the history of that race, stepped up his pace about the 6km mark and that was essentially the end of any competition he had.
The win gave Forde the option as the leading contender for selection on the national team for the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country race. Forde had stated that his thrust this year is to qualify for the London Olympic Games.
Alika Morgan, who had described last year as one of the worst years in her career in an exclusive interview with this newspaper, showed that she has no intention of repeating the slump when she erased all threats with her win over the 6km senior women distance.
Morgan ran 23:19.1 to also add her name to the priority candidates for the NACAC race. Ashanti Scott was second with 24:30.4 while Donika Lyle was a distant third in 31:36. Morgan seemed to be comfortable and injury-free throughout the grueling journey. An injury had forced Morgan to drop out of the South American 10km Road Race late last year.
In the junior female race, Andrea Foster continued her ascension with a 15:22.44 win in the 4km race ahead of junior national team-mate, Adana Roberts (15:56.47) and Janella Jonas (17:48.07), who finished second and third respectively.
Nathaniel Giddings won the junior male 6km race in 20:11.7 with Devon Barrington second with 21:02.7 and Chavez Sital (21:20.8) third. The AAG has not yet announced how many athletes the association will be sending to NACAC race.
The course that is measured on the outer circuit of the National Park was in good condition owed to consistent sunshine. The distance athletes savored the opportunity to open the athletics season in perfect weather yesterday. The AAG Development Meets are to follow.
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