Gordon, James win Nuttall/WATA 5K
Mavis Bank High School’s Garfield Gordon (16:45 minutes) and Danielle James (20:31 minutes) were top male and female runners in the Nuttall/WATA 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 10.
Paula Sinclair of Ageless Wonders (34:32 minute) and Michael Lee of 2Fit2Quit (31:59 minute) were top female and male in the overall walking category.
In the team awards, the Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Dujohn Terrelonge (17:46 minutes), anchored a win for the five-man team of runners, while Horace Herbies of team European Union/Alpha (34:15 minutes) led his team of walkers to victory.
The second annual Nuttall/WATA 5K saw over 1,200 runners/walkers doing their bit to benefit the renovation of the hospital’s general and maternity wards.
In the overall run awards (male) Ryan Lawrence (17:00 minutes) and Kemar Leslie (17:09 minutes) of Mavis Bank Track Club came second and third, respectively. Latrice McGann (21:51 minutes) of Mavis Bank High School was second in the overall female category and Karlene Blagrove (22:19 minutes) was third.
Second in running in the team category was Mavis Bank High School and European Union/Alpha, while in overall walking, 2Fit2Quit came second and Nuttall Hospital third.
There were several age-group awards based on net time.
Harvey Levers, CEO of the Nuttall Memorial Hospital, in thanking all race participants for their “contributions to an improved hospital” noted that “the 5K was only one of many events planned to raise funds for much-needed refurbishment at the hospital to ensure we continue to offer the Jamaican public at most, the most efficient and effective levels of health care”.
Francois Chalifour, director of development & marketing, Wisynco, title sponsors, said that the company “was happy for the opportunity to contribute to the iconic Nuttall Memorial Hospital that has been the birthplace of so many distinguished Jamaicans”.
Other sponsors, Marathon Insurance Brokers, National Health Fund, the European Union and Women’s Leadership Initiative, were all high in praise for the Running Events managed race.
The EU mounted a formidable team of 160, including students from Allman Town Primary, Alpha, Central Branch Primary, Constant Spring Primary, Maverley Primary & Junior High, Melrose Primary & Junior High, Windward Road Primary & Junior High, JSIF and Poverty Reduction Programme interns.
The Women’s Leadership Initiative with 50 of their members, relatives and friends dedicated their participation to their advocacy against child sexual abuse and their “Darkness to Light” programme, which has to date trained over 30 employees of NGOs, places of safety, caregivers and guidance counsellors to detect child sexual abuse.
