Back to back victories for Jean Habarurema of France after he left the competition behind in the Cave Shepherd VISA Credit Card 10k to finish first two years in a row with a time of 32:39 minutes.
STIFF COMPETITION
Jean Habarurema of France and Natasha Wodak of Canada set a blistering return leg of the Cave Shepherd VISA Credit Card 10k yesterday to finish well ahead of their competitors.
It was two in a row for Habarurema after he also won the Men’s 10k last year. He was challenged by home boy Jason Wilson during the first leg but his return push was more than enough to kick off the challenge and he crossed the line more than a minute ahead in 32:59 minutes. Habarurema said the conditions were great for running and he loved the course, but on the way back he felt fatigued and slowed his pace on the way back home.
“The course is very nice. I wanted to push, push, but I was running out of energy and I knew I had to run the marathon tomorrow, so I wanted to save my energy,” he stated.
Wilson was the first of three Barbadians in the top four, finishing in a time of 34:11 minutes. In third was Dario Grandison in 35:45, while Joshua Hunte was fourth in 37:02 minutes and in fifth place in a time of 38:36.
Natasha Wodak of Canada made the turn for home in eighth place overall, but ran an inspirational return leg to stop the clock to not only win the Women’s 10k but take third overall in 35:01 minutes. Last year Wodak and countrywoman Lanni Merchant attempted to cross the line holding hands but were nipped at the line by a fast finishing Tonya Nero of Trinidad and Tobago. This year Wodak left no doubt, setting her own pace to win relatively easily. Nero’s time of 35:37 placed her in second for the Women’s and fifth overall. Merchant placed third in 37:33 minutes, C-celia Mobuchon was fourth in 38:57 and fifth went to Katherine Moore with a time of 40:25 minutes.
The 5k Men’s winner was St. Lucia’s Michael James in a time of 14:32 minutes, beating last year’s winner Barbadian Shamel Maynard into second in a time of 15:31. Kion Joseph was tracking Maynard but setrled for third in 15:41 minutes and Michael Honore was fourth in 15:56 with Nathan Smeaton finishing in 16:13 minutes. Sade Sealy claimed the win in the Women’s 5k after clocking a time of 18:11 minutes. Diana Wilson-Patrick was second in 19:11 and Rachel Atkinson third with 19:21 minutes. Fourth to cross the line in 19:40 was Kristina Hassell and Tara Imerson closed out the top 5 in 20:25 minutes. (AS)