Jerome Blackett is the picture of concentration as he takes the final bend before the finish line yesterday.
Blackett bolts to One Accord 10K victory
9/17/2012
By Michael Phillips
A SLIGHT knee injury was nowhere near enough to keep Jerome Blackett from coming home first in the second One Accord Plaza 10K Run yesterday.
The 22 year-old clocked 38:24 minutes (m) when he made it back into the Warrens complex ahead of the close to 100 other runners.
Speaking to the Barbados Advocate shortly after his run, Blackett explained that despite his impediment the run went well for him.
“It was very difficult. The sun was very hot and at the start of the race there were a lot of inclines; but after that it was pretty easy.”
He went on to mention that his knee was the least of his worries and that in actual fact it was his knee-brace that gave him the most trouble.
“It didn’t really hamper me in any big way today. Actually, it feels a bit better but my knee-brace was dropping under my knee and cutting my circulation so I had to slow down to try to pull it up. But for the most part, I ran through it.”
Coming in second was 16-year-old Joshua Hunte, who hobbled to the finish line in 40:13 m.
Hunte broke away from the rest of the pack at the Hothersal Turning roundabout with about three kilometres left in the race and extended an 800-metre lead between himself and Blackett. However, his grasp of glory was short-lived as he collapsed at the Warrens roundabout and was forced to walk the remainder of the race. On the final stretch with just about 400 metres left between him and the finish line, an empowered Blackett sped past him to secure his victory.
Hunte was forced to change his hobble to a jig as he hurried to the finish line to ensure that he was not knocked too far down in the standings.
Hot on his heels was Mark Greenidge, who logged 40:21 m. Fourth and fifth places went to Shawn Parris and Joseph Parris, who clocked 41:50 m and 41:54 m respectively.
In the 5K Walk, which was added for the first time this year, veteran road-racer Rodney Blackman was the first home after walking around the Jackson and Cane Garden environs. The 50-year-old finished in 28:12 m to lead home a roster of 45 walkers.
Paul Browne was only seconds behind Blackman and was good for a time 28:26 m, while third place went to Dudley Harewood with 28:39 m.
The top order of the walkers was closed out by Anderson Bolden (29:39 m) and Josep Williams (31:34 m). The first woman home in the walkers was Marlene Stewart in 34:45 m.
This year’s event, which marked the second ever, was organised by June Rudder, who stated that there was a 100% increase in numbers from last year after fielding only 50 runners in the 2011 edition.
Noting that the charity benefiting from this year’s run was the Hope Foundation, Rudder went on to explain that the main focus was just to get persons out in an effort to get and stay healthy.
“They are both recreational activities to encourage persons to just get out there and walk or run and keep healthy and fit. The emphasis is on participation and, of course, there will be competitive people out there; but the main reason behind it is to encourage healthy living through exercise,” she said.
