Nicholson, Tyrell champions of South American 10K race

Story and photos by Jemima Holmes

Marlon Nicholson was the man of the moment on Sunday afternoon, as he raced to his first South American 10K victory, in what could be considered his debut race.
Sheama Tyrell made it two-in-two as she “toughed it out” to win her second consecutive female SA 10K title.

While Tyrell’s victory was undisputed, the males had a few tussles for the top position along the lengthy route.
Starting at the GTT Earth Station on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, the massive group made their first move. However, it was Jonathan Fagundes who put on the first show of the race. Clad in a tropical sensitive Santa suit, Fagundes led the competitors up until the 1K mark, where he displayed a Guyana flag before getting lost in the crowd of aspiring athletes.

From there on, the Guyana Defence Force’s Odwin Tudor took the steering wheel. Quite comfortable with Tudor breaking the wind were 2020 champion Winston Missigher and the experienced Cleveland Thomas, who sat comfortably in the leading pack.
Interchanging leadership between Tudor, Ronell Newton and Sir Kennard Hartog, the leading group persisted up until the University of Guyana (UG) turn, where they lost some inexperienced competitors. At that moment, Tyrell also led the females, around the 4K point.
At the 7K point, the leading group was shaved down to just seven athletes. Missigher, in hopes of making it his second consecutive win, made a brief move, but was unsuccessful. In similar manner, Thomas also made an attempt to break away from the group, but it proved futile with the agility of the youngsters coming into play.

As they approached the Russian Embassy turn, Hartog lost the leading group and suddenly it was a four- man race.

On the Kitty Public Road, Thomas again attempted to break away while Missigher looked good to lead the pack. However, as Tudor and Nicholson, two GDF athletes, approached their base at Camp Ayanganna, there seemed to be a spur of inspiration as they squeezed out Thomas.

Mentally settling for fourth place, Thomas was quiet as the trio went ahead. Missigher, most likely banking on his final sprint, was quite fine with allowing Nicholson to get ahead of him on Thomas Lands, however, this was a grave mistake by the 2020 champion, as Nicholson soon put on the speed to race in to the National Park entrance with a solid 30 metres lead.

According to preliminary results, Nicholson clocked 33:27.80 for his first SA 10K victory, while Missigher clocked 33:38.30 for second place. Tudor completed the podium with a time of 33:39.30 and Thomas ended up fourth with 34:33.30. Ronell Newton of Upper Demerara Schools clocked 35:54.60 for the fifth position.
Meanwhile, Adriel Austin was reportedly the second female to cross the line, also finishing first for the juniors.