NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Three runners retained their titles at the 11th Reggae Marathon yesterday along the Norman Manley Boulevard.

Carrie Tollefson of Minnesota United States in the 10K for female (36:17.0), Kirk Brown in the half-marathon (1:12.20), and Rupert Green in the marathon (2:32.0) returned atop the podium.

The winners in the 10K had new record times as the course is now officially IAAF-certified. Oraine Wint Bellefield clocked 32:29.0 to finish ahead of Andre Headley GC Foster (33:29.0) and Nembhard Palmer of Bellefield (34:03.0).

Jhevere Hall (40:48.0) was second behind Tollefslon, while Molly-Ann Blake was next in 41:01.0.

Brown retained the half-marathon ahead of Bryan Huberty of USA (1:16.56) and Ronique Williams of Montego Bay (1:17.9).

Christina Dotson of Bermuda won the female race in 1:39.26 ahead of Kishka-Kaye O’Connor (1:44.43), and Sara Gress of Port Antonio (1:45.12).

Green (unattached) finished ahead of Colin Graham (3:8.24), and Herv Bacon of France (3:12.7), while first-timer Jenifer Goebel of Chicago clocked 3:07.59, Karlene Blagrove 3:36.51 and Soile Peltoniemi-Ni of Finland 3:51.41 to finish in that order.

According to race director Alfred Francis, “The marathon was good and it will enhance our long-distance runners.

“The course is certified and it means that if you run a world record it will stand; if you want to qualify for the Olympics, World Championship you can do it on the Reggae Marathon course,” he said.

“This is the first time the 10K course is certified, so whatever time was run on it is a record…,” he pointed out.

“This year we had 1,300 runners and… 28 countries… and it speaks well for the marathon and its ability to attract runners from across the world. This is a part of the sports tourism as we have runners who have been here from the first marathon,” Francis added.