Record turnout at Sigma Run

It was a record turnout of participants at yesterday's staging of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate 5K Fun Run in New Kingston. More than 26,000 entrants took part in both the Run and Walk events, where $50 million was raised by the organisers to help assist the Spanish Town Hospital's Neonatal Unit and the St Christopher's School for the Deaf - the oldest residential institution for the deaf in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Participants turned up at Emancipation Park from as early as 6:30 a.m. in preparation for the event, which began at exactly 7:30 a.m. The three patrons of the meet this year were Miss Jamaica Universe Davina Bennett, sprint star Usain Bolt, and Patrice White, fitness coach and chief executive officer of Dynamic Lifestyle. All three participated, with Bolt doing the 5K run, while the others did the walk.

At the end of the 5K run, it was 26-years-old Ann Marie Finegan and 38-years-old Ryon Chambers who came out on top in the female and male category. Finegan covered the route in 23:27.00, ahead of veteran road race runner Karlene Blagrove, who was second in 24:09.00, with Krishna Tully coming in third in 24:37.00.

On the male side, the experienced Chambers was an easy winner, stopping the clock at 18:28.00, ahead of Dario Grandison, second in 19:19.00, with third going to Keroy Benjamin in 19:40.00.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Jamaica Christopher Zacca said that he is pleased that the run-walk event achieved its objectives. "Today was our 20th anniversary of our run. Twenty years of running for a purpose. It was really amazing. My first time at the helm, and we broke the record for number of participants - 26,519 - and we achieved our objectives in funds for the two entities we are assisting," said Zacca. Despite being at the helm for the first time, Zacca credited those before him and those who were deeply involved for making the venture a success." I am very proud to be at the top of this, but it was all about a team effort, as my predecessors set the pace and my team at Sagicor, led by Ingrid Chord, is just unbelievable as they all did the work", said Zacca.