"Steve Asson (left) collecting his spot prize from the Ceres Juices Representative, noted “this is a tough course, with rolling hills and a finish in the sand”. Photo: Supplied

Maria Mayes noted that “this is how running in the Caribbean should be, with a good field, finish on the beach and straight into the sea!” Photo: Supplied

Friday night thunderstorms took the thermometer down a notch but left a couple of water hazards along the course which with its rolling false flats looked to be a challenge, but from the gun Steven Asson and James Carr ran neck and neck alternatively surging into the lead with Zebalon McLean, hot on their heels.

Having lost the opener to Carr by 11 seconds, Asson set a fast pace, but Carr stayed with him until over the last 350 metres when Asson started to stretch the lead finishing just over 1 minute ahead of Carr. McLean kicked hard along the water edge to beat Ravindra Sukhu by 20 seconds and round off the podium spots.

Asson, collecting his spot prize from Ceres, noted that “this is a tough course, with rolling hills and a finish in the sand”.

Defending race one winner Carr said, “it was hard race trying to get ahead of Steven Asson, given the race conditions I am happy to match my time on this course and look forward to the rest of the series”.

The women’s field also saw a furious start as the lead pack of Maria Mays, Katrina Crumpler, Kathy Harpur, Claire-Louise Whiley, Sarah Hayes and NiMade Oniasih hung on the pace set my Mays for the first mile until Mays keeping pace with the lead male pack pulled ahead. Mays finished in a blistering 42 minutes 13 seconds. Katrina Crumpler, shaving almost 4 minutes of her race winning season opener finished in 46:35 with newcomer Harpur crossing for third a minute behind.

Whiley also ducked the 50 minute barrier for one of the fastest ladies races yet. Mays noted that, “this is how running in the Caribbean should be, with a good field, finish on the beach and straight into the sea!” as everyone enjoyed the invigorating cool down of a ‘sea bath’. Crumpler said “I have been training for this race and am pleased with the time”.

Nine participants touch advantage of the alternative 5k course and Gerard Rose was the sole 10k power walker. Rose, a keen advocate of sport for seniors reflected poetically that, “like life into a 10k the rain may fall, even though you prepared you have to deal with the reality of the situation, the short sharp inclines and when in sight of your goal soft sand, making the finish more exhilarating”

RACE RESULTS

1. Steven Asson, 40:38.51 2. James Carr, 41:39.50 3. Zebalon McLean, 43:51.86 4. Ravindra Sukhu, 44:11.43. 5. Ben Mays, 47:26.95 6. Lito Agno, 49:41.14 7. Filip Kreutzer, 51:05.68 8. Daniel Mitchell, 51:54.09 9. James Shearman, 53:37.42 10. Gabriel Obregon, 55:47.61 11. Howard Moore, 57:08.52 12. Gareth Watkins, 59:33.33 13. Peter Wilmott, 60:05.64 14. Tom Parish, 60:15.05 15. Jeffrey George, 61:39.95 16. Liam Faulkner, 65:57.17 17. Stephen Beard, 67:19.64 18. Owen Prew, 70:59.07

1. Maria Mays, 42:13.23 2. Katrina Crumpler, 46:35.13 3. Kathy Harpur, 47:35.67 4. Clare-Louise Whiley, 49:49.31 5. Sarah Hayes, 50:39.42 6. NiMade Oniasih, 51:12.54 7. Kay Reddy, 54:28.29 8. Deborah Bell, 58:00.01 9. Joanna Dunne, 59:14.30 10. Kate Henderson, 60:12.68 11. Harriet Robertson, 62:14.70 12. Natasha Ruacheinski, 62:16.29 13. Philomena Robertson, 65:59.05 14. Kate Jackson, 72:28.31

Power Walker: Gerard Rose, 78:34.52

CERES 5K

1. Mark Young 2. Adam Lamb 3. Michael Fay 4. Lee Osborne

1. Ella Christopher 2. Roslyn Griffith 3. Claire Jackson 4.Agatha Kwenga 5. Gillian Howe