APPROXIMATELY 1,600 walkers and runners took to the streets of Montego Bay on Sunday for the inaugural staging of the Flow MoBay City Run, a charity event in aid of the Western Jamaica Tertiary Education Fund.

Among those running to help the young students who attend UWI Western Campus, UTech Western Campus, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, and Montego Bay Community College was 74-year-old Gerline Nelson from Adelphi, St James. She was the oldest female participant and completed the run ahead of many younger than herself. Nelson recorded a time of 1:8.16 minutes to place 55th out of 92 participants in the 10K race.

Sharnon Williams emerged victorious in the 10K race with an impressive time of 39 minutes and one second. Karlene Blagrove led the women of the 10K race with a time of 42 minutes and 58 seconds.

Horace Bury was the first to cross the finish line to take the top spot in the Male 5K Run Category in 20 minutes and 29 seconds. Vista Print’s Jordane Black cruised to a second place finish in 21 minutes and 51 seconds with RIU’s Mario Harrison securing third place in a time of 22 minutes and 21 seconds.

Jill Stewart completed the 5K Run in 27 minutes and 47 seconds to cop the top spot among the 5K Female runners, followed closely by Christina Samuda in 28:47 minutes and Ciska Haynes in 28 minutes and 50 seconds.

“We were extraordinarily pleased at the turn out, support and enthusiasm of all the participants, supporters and sponsors,” said Janet Silvera, chairperson of the organising committee of the Flow MoBay City Run.

“This gives us added energy to plan the 2015 run, and we look forward to the funds raised from the run being available for the students for the coming academic year.”

The prize for the corporate company with the most participants was convincingly earned by RIU with a group of 260 registered walkers and runners. The next largest corporate group was fielded by Scotiabank, with 150 team members. Sponsors Flow, Courts and Wisynco each had over 100 participants, some travelling from Kingston just for the event.

The proceeds of the Flow MoBay City Run go towards The Western Jamaica Tertiary Education fund, which will provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships and bursaries for students from western Jamaica who attend tertiary institutions in that area, and who

face challenges in meeting expenses for their education.