Record turnout for 2019 Guardian Group Foundation’s Keep It Alive MoBay Run
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The streets of Fairview, Montego Bay, were unrecognisable on Saturday night, June 1, as thousands of walkers, runners and ‘wheelers’ gathered to participate in the Montego Bay leg of the 2019 Guardian Group Foundation’s Keep it Alive 5K Night Runs.
The Run, which celebrated its fifth staging in Montego Bay, saw 7,840 people registering; the highest number to date in that city.
G C Foster College’s Garfield Gordon is eyeing a spot on a national team this summer and hopes his win will help his preparation for the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Trials later this month.
The 22-year-old Gordon retained his Male Run title crossing the line in 15 minutes, 11.69 seconds — better than the 15 minutes, 24 seconds plus time he ran last year.
G C Foster runners swept the main titles as Kelly-Ann Beckford won the Female Run in 19 minutes, 30.12 seconds.
Henry Thomas was second in the men’s Run in 15 minutes 30.91 seconds with Spot Valley High schoolboy Tyrese Reid third in 16:15.14 minutes.
“It was a great run; the route was flat and easy,” Gordon told the Jamaica Observer. “The start was a bit slow but I was able to pick up the pace and took over the lead by the 3K mark.”
He said he has plans to go to the JAAA National Senior Trials. “I will run the 5,000m and the 1500m, and this is part of my preparation.”
Veteran Arieta Martin was second in the Female Run with 21:16.63 minutes, with Kishawna Robinson third in 22:06.27 minutes.
Andre Smith won the Male Walk, completing the distance in 25:15.29 minutes, beating Duwell Allen’s 25:40,19 minutes, and Jamar McTaggart 29:12.77 minutes.
Karlie Blagrove won the Female Walk in 32:47.89 minutes, with Natasha McKenzie taking second in 33:54.62 minutes and Jullite Reeves third in 34:39.05 minutes.
Mother and daughter duo, Vinnette Green and Sasha McKane placed first and second in the Female Wheelchair category, with finishing times of 28.51 and 44.45, minutes, respectively.
Guardian Life’s executive with responsibility for the runs, Claudette Ashman expressed gratitude to the groups and individuals who registered for the race, and stated that it was very encouraging to see so many Jamaicans coming on board to make a positive impact on health services across the island.
“We are very grateful for this tremendous turnout, as it tells us that there are more persons willing to engage in activities which have a direct impact on our country’s health sector. It also shows that more people are getting involved in healthy lifestyle practices, which is a very good sign,” she said.
Since its launch in 2014, Guardian Group Foundation’s 5K Night Runs have grown significantly to become an increasingly important partner in mobilising resources to support the delivery of better health care to the citizens of Jamaica, having contributed, to date, approximately $80 million towards the purchase of medical equipment at several hospitals across the island.
