KINGSTON College athletes warmed up for the upcoming track and field season after dominant performances at the fourth staging of the Mico Pump It Up 5k Run/Walk, which started and ended on the school campus in Cross Roads yesterday.
Aron Tanui was the overall winner as he covered the course in 16:09.00 minutes, his team having four athletes finishing in the top five. G.C. Foster College’s Javon Francis broke the North Street based institution’s dominance as he finished second overall in 16:11.00 minutes. Kirk Dawkins (16:12.00) and twin brothers Gianni (16:34.00) and Giovanni Henry (16:36.00) closed out the top five among the males.
The University of Technology Jamaica Ashantia Carr continued from where she left off last season with a fine performance by being the first female to finish the course and placing 36th overall in 21:28.00 minutes. G.C. Foster’s Chris Ann Lewis had to settle for second in in 21:47.00 minutes, a Wolmer’s Girls’ Zwandi Harrison was third in 21:56.00 minutes.
Co-chairman of the Mico 5K Committee, Sharon Wolfe, was pleased with what she considered another successful staging.
“We had a very good turnout, and I think our event is the only one which has so many high-school athletes participating,” she said. “We were happy with the numbers but could be happier with a bigger number as it is for a worthy cause – a fundraiser for our Pre-University Men’s Programme – and we are looking forward to partnering with one or two organisations next year to make it bigger and better because it is a great cause for our young men at risk.”