Brown, Dixon impress at Burger King 'Run di road' 10k

WITH very cool conditions prevailing for most of the morning due to persistent showers just before the race, defending champion Kirk Brown and last year's third-place finisher Britnie Dixon of Vere Technical made the most of the chill at yesterday's staging of the Burger King Portmore 'Run Di Road' 10K road race.

The pair captured the male and female titles in convincing style, with Brown, who was winning the event for a fifth time and four years in a row, clocking 31 minutes 55 seconds for the win.

Like he did a year ago, the in-form Oshane Archibald of G.C. Foster College had to settle for second place in 32 minutes 14 seconds, while former Mavis Bank High School athlete Garfield Gordon took third place in 32 minutes 17 seconds.

Brown, who less than 12 hours earlier had captured the Guardian Life Night 5K event in New Kingston, showed no form of tiredness as once again he proved that he is the best in the island on the road taking control of the race from the early stages.

"It was not hard for me today (yesterday) because, in the first part of the race, the other runners ran to my advantage as they went out very fast. But that suited me because I know that I have strong endurance and good top-end speed. After taking over at the 6K mark, I just pulled away from the field. Running the night before didn't affected me as I have done this before and I am used to this, " said Brown.

Dixon, one of the favourites to dominate in the middle distance at Champs next year, was in a no-nonsense mood, dominating her rivals to be the first female to cross the line in 40 minutes 59 seconds, ahead of Church Teachers' College's Melissa Tyme, 41:04 seconds, and Edwin Allen's Kara Grant, who competed for Spalding High last year, finishing third in 41 minutes 14 seconds.

"It was a very competitive race, but I was confident in winning as my strategy was to just get out very fast on my rivals, knowing that they would have difficulty in catching me back; and I just increased my speed after every 1K," said Dixon.

MUCH IMPROVED

With their powerful middle-distance team, Edwin Allen's girls topped the female team event finishing first with an average of 42 minutes 32 seconds. Vere Technical was second in 43:28, with Holmwood Technical taking third in 44:52.

The much-improved Mavis Bank High took the male team award with an average time of 36 minutes 17 seconds, ahead of Bellefield High, 36 minutes 19 and St. Jago High third with 37 minutes 13 seconds.

As usual, it was very exciting among teams in the 4x1500 metres relays, where Hydel High, led by Monifa Green, and Kingston College, led by Shane Buchanan captured the female and male titles, while GC Foster College was first in the Institutions and Clubs section.

Subrina McDonald-Radcliffe, regional sales and Marketing Manager of Burger King, was very pleased with the event despite a lower turnout from previous years and the absence of a walk race.

"We are very pleased of what happened today (yesterday) and despite not doing our usual 5K in Mandeville this year leading up to the event today, due to the weather, and although the turnout is not what we wanted, we are grateful. The interest is still in the product and next year we are hoping to make it much bigger and better, as we are going back to the table to do some serious panning," said McDonald-Radcliffe.