Forde wins CLICO 5K in Trinidad
Stabroek News
January 28, 2004
Guyana's top middle-distance athlete Cleveland Forde opened his 2004 season on a winning note by capturing top honours in the CLICO (Trinidad) sponsored Open 5K Road Race on Sunday.
According to Forde's manager/coach Leslie Black, the top Guyanese 5K and 10K athlete clocked 15 minutes 28 seconds to win the event from United States college student Richard Jones.
Over 125 athletes from around the Caribbean and farther afield participated in the annual event. Black said Forde stuck with the early leaders for the first half of the race, but made his move with 800 metres remaining. Black said Forde won unchallenged.
The coach said Forde did not prepare properly for this year's event because of CXC examinations. Forde, the 2002 National Junior Sportsman of the Year, won the event last year in 15.58.
Black thanked the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company for the sponsorship it has given to Forde over the past few years. However, he said, Forde needs more than an air ticket if he is to reach his true potential. "Forde has to get supplements, boarding and lodging when he travels overseas for competitions and proper shoes. …this calls for money and at the moment I have two other athletes - Delcie Dick and Alicia Morgan - who I manage and train with my finances."
Black is appealing to the business community to come forward and sponsor Forde.
For the CLICO victory on Sunday, Forde received TT$560.