Competition bringing out the best in local runners

The old saying goes “competition brings out the best in all of us” and that is what unfolds as the athletes in Guyana elevate themselves.
Following the Massy 10K and Courts 10K over the past month, Cleveland Forde, who triumphed over Winston Missingher on both occasions indicated that the competition is intensifying and it is good for the sport.

At the end of the Courts 10K on Sunday Forde said “It was a very competitive race as we see Missingher control the race from a long way out, so the challenge is expected and we can see them stepping up and naturally we can see faster times.”
It is clearly evident that this was so as Forde completed the Massy 10K on September 4 in a time of 33 minutes 11 seconds while at the Courts 10K, three weeks later he completed the distance in a time of 32 minutes 40 seconds.
Missingher also bettered his timings, finishing the Massy 10K in 33minutes 31 seconds and Courts 10K in 33 minutes 15 seconds.
Both athletes are at the helm of distance running locally and are making an impact regionally, having both participated in the Venture Credit Union 5K last weekend in Trinidad and Tobago, where Forde finished second and Missingher third.
Missingher, at the end of the Courts 10K indicated that the race was indeed “a fast race and a challenging one.” Adding “I had to come out and give 100 percent cause I know it would be a fast race.”
The 28 year old star pointed out that his rival and friend, Forde is a very good athlete and is more experience but “when it comes to speed, strength and stamina we have the same level.”
The competition is getting better and Missingher, as well notices this pointing out the fact in history that the last two years Forde was winning comfortably and running the same speed but now that he has arrived on the scene he has to run hard and the times are getting better.
But it is not only Forde and Missingher who benefit from vigorous competition, Cleveland Thomas, who won the Courts 10K back in 2014 was among the top seed and rising star, Nathaniel Giddings is ever present at the pinnacle of the sport.
Police Track Club’s Nathaniel Giddings ran 33:33 and Cleveland Thomas clocked in 34 minutes 01 seconds (34:01) at the Massy 10K but in the Courts 10K, the two completed in 33:46 and 33:26 respectively.
Missingher added that even at the half way stage of the Courts 10K, five runners were bundled up and this was not the norm with usually three or just two having been able to keep up.
Junior winner, Odwin Tudor highlighted that his training with Forde was good as the experienced trainer guiding him to keep up with the senior runners and if possible could be clocking in timings like the ace runners.
The development of the sport, as Athletics Association of Guyana President, Aubrey Hutson pointed out is going along fairly as we can see better timings and “we are growing from strength to strength, soon producing more and more Olympians”
The females are also clocking in better timings on the track. In the Massy 10K, The junior female category was won by Claudrice McKay (41:32) while Maria Urquart completed the task in 47:52 followed by Leanna Charles (50:11) while at the Courts 10k on Sunday; first placed Joanna Archer completed the distance in 45 minutes and nine seconds (45:09) and even though the top time was not as good as the Massy 10K top, second to fourth places all ran below the 47th minute mark. (Tabitha Bowman with 45:17, Cassie Kirton – 46:34 and Shontel Hinds – 46:56)
In the senior women’s category, Ashanti Scott copped first place in a time of 42:21 followed by Alicia Jack (46:52), third placed, Shion Boyer (49:32) and Nikita Wilson (54:25) but at the Courts 10K, the figures were significantly better.
United States Based top runner, Euleene Josiah-Tanner, who is undisputedly the queen of the Courts 10k where she is unbeaten after six years clocked in 40:12 followed by Claudrice McKay (41:42), Ashanti Scott (41:56), Alicia Jack (45:36) and Shion Boyer (45:50).
Additionally, the events are attracting a larger number of athletes every year to which Aubrey Hutson is making the future of the sport bright.