Forde runs second in 5 000m race
Guyana Chronicle
March 30, 2004
GUYANA’S top distance athlete Cleveland Forde finished second in the 5 000m race at the Southern Invitational Games that concluded on Sunday in Trinidad and Tobago.
Forde clocked 15 minutes 23 seconds to finish behind Curtis Cox of Trinidad and Tobago, while USA-based Trinidadian Richard Jones came in third and Pamenos Ballantyne finished fourth.
Forde who was part-sponsored by GT&T was out-sprinted in the end by Cox who ran in a time of 15 minutes and 20 seconds.
According to Forde’s manager, Leslie Black, his charge had beaten Cox last year in a 10km road race that was held in St Lucia.
Despite his second place finish Black said that Forde was pleased with his placing since his immediate goal was to beat Ballantyne.
Black also said that Forde has been invited to contest another 5 000m this weekend, but he will not run as he is taking it lightly so as not to aggravate a muscle strain he picked up before leaving Guyana.
According to Black, unconfirmed reports have stated that Rawle Green had placed second in the 200m sprint and Trevor Scotland second in the 400m.
Black, popularly known to train top distance athletes said that Forde is confident that Guyana can pick up a number of medals if they field a bigger team for the Carifta Games set for Bermuda in April.
He said some of our top junior female athletes Delice Dick, Alika, Morgan and Leanna Doris can beat the athletes whom he saw on show on the island.
Black said Forde told him that those female runners will also be competing at the Carifta Games and the Guyanese are capable of beating them.
The realisation of this, however, will depend heavily funds available.
The team was expected home last evening.