Forde takes Golden Mile
-Dick unstoppable in 3K
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
December 1, 2003
Top Guyanese distance athlete Cleveland Forde was in commanding form once again yesterday as he ran a scorching 4:27:09 to take the top spot in the Amateur Athletic Association's (AAAG) Golden Mile Road Race sponsored by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).
The race began at the Seawall and Camp Road Junction and proceeded West along the sea wall road then south into High Street, continued along Main Street and finished in front of the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport on Main Street.
The race which started at approximately 16:15 hrs got off to a frantic start with none of the favourites in the front running. However, by the time the athletes reached the half way point, Forde, Lionel D'Andrade, Colin Mercurius and Kelvin Johnson had taken the lead. At the junction of New Market and Main Streets Forde made his move and never looked back as he powered his way to victory, leaving D'Andrade (4:34:48), Mercurius (4:36:43) and Johnson (4:42:39 in his wake in second, third and fourth respectively. Forde took home $200 US and a trophy while D'Andrade won $150 US and Mercurius $100 US.
On the distaff side, Delcie Dick once again stole the honours and proved her recent victories at road races were not flukes when she took the Women on the Move 3K title along with the $12,000 first prize and a trophy.
The women had to run a different route from the men as their 3K event started on Main Street in front of the Risan's Store and proceeded south. They then turned West at the Cenotaph then proceeded north on the western half of Main Street into High Street. They turned north at the Umana Yana then south into High Street then into Main Street and finishing in front of the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport. When the race broke at approximately 16:30 hrs the athletes were bunched tightly together. However, by the time they had reached Arapaima on Main Street, Dick, Ashanti Scott and Car-lissa Shabazz took the lead. The three athletes remained together for most of the race until Shabazz was dropped on the return journey at Middle Street.
Scott and Dick fought it out with Dick prevailing in the end to win in a time of 10:32:18 while Scott finished a creditable 10:33:70. Malissa Blake did well to take third place in the open category.
In the under-15 division Alika Morgan took top spot, Carlissa Shabazz second and Kimberly Dick third. Omesha Humphrey took first place in the Under-17 category with Donna April second and Keneisha Lashley third. The athletes in the U-15 and U-17 categories received trophies.
Thirty women athletes faced starters orders and 28 finished.
President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K. Juman Yassin who started the Golden Mile, in brief remarks congratulated the AAAG for its work during the year. He however expressed disappointment with the seemingly small number of male entries (16) in the Golden Mile. He said he hoped next year would be better and added that the numbers seem to mirror what is happening in the wider society with women in the ascendancy in many fields.
Claude Blackmoore President of the AAAG said that the two races had brought an end to the organization's activities for the year. He added that the Association had bigger and better plans for next year.