SUPPORTED by excellent weather conditions, 27-year-old national cross-country runner Kirk Brown demolished the competition in a time of 16.48 minutes to capture first place at the second staging of the popular St Hugh’s High School Swans 5K held last Saturday.

Akhaan Alexander, who placed fifth in the inaugural staging of Swans 5K last year, improved on his position and time by 14 seconds this year, to secure second place. Alexander posted a time of 18.21 minutes, while third place went to Gavin Francis of the Pacers, with a time of 18.32 minutes.

Brown, who has been selected as part of the team to represent Jamaica in this month’s North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Columbia, said that although his major rivals did not participate in the race, he was satisfied with his performance. He also remarked that winning the race was good preparation for the upcoming championships.

Former (1984, 1987) Masters World Champion in the 200m and 400m Hans-Dieter ‘Hanno’ Rheineck, who made Jamaica his 104th stop to compete in a 5K road race, said that he finished stronger and faster than expected and experienced no challenges during the road race.

The 72-year-old German, who thoroughly enjoyed both the event and his stay in Jamaica, especially the care and warmth received from the Swans 5K run/walk organising committee, posted a time of 30.54 minutes.

Forty-four-year-old veteran Karlene Blagrove of No Excuse Running Club successfully defended her title as women’s champion runner, shaving a minute and 14 seconds off her previous time, to clock a respectable 20.49 minutes.

Blagrove, who placed seventh overall, expressed great satisfaction with the new route, deeming it “lovely”. The route took participants along Camp Road through sections of New Kingston and onto Oxford Road to end at the school’s main entrance on Leinster Road.

She was also effusive in her praise for the volunteers and marshals who were placed strategically along the route and described them as very “motivational”. Similar to last year, the volunteers were a hit among the participants, who overall found them to be very helpful and encouraging along the route.

Securing second place was the seasoned Janetta Robinson of the Pacers, who clocked 22.23 minutes and placed 11th overall, while Sandra Aitken, last year’s second-place finisher, crossed the line in third place with a time of 24.10 minutes. Fifty-seven-year-old Aitken placed 20th overall.

Meanwhile, Kenardo Phillips of the UWI E Fit Club claimed victory in the walk category with a time of 30.51 minutes. Paula Sinclair, attached to the Ageless Wonders, continued her dominance on the 5K walk circuit to win the female section, posting a time of 33.45 minutes and placing fourth overall.

President of the St Hugh’s Past Students’ Association and chairman of the Swans 5K organising committee, Diane Thompson Clarke, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the more than 400 participants who supported the event. She said that proceeds from the Swans 5K will be used by the St Hugh’s Past Students’ Association for ongoing projects with the school. Funds raised last year were donated to the school’s sports department and also the Women’s Centre Foundation of Jamaica that assists teen mothers. The major sponsor for the 2015 Swans 5K was Guardian Life.