Sagicor’s Perkins ‘very pleased with support’

KIRK Brown and Karlene Blagrove continued their good form this season as they captured the male and female 5K titles at yesterday's Sagicor Sigma 5K Run in New Kingston.

Brown, who copped the men's title, won in 17 minutes 15 seconds, finishing ahead of former champion Shawn Pitter, who clocked 17.41 minutes, while Kemar Leslie took third in 18 minutes 26 seconds.

Despite winning, Brown was not pleased with his time.

"I feel great about the race, but I wanted to run much faster. This could have been so, but the officials needed to be more alert as I made a turn-off going the right way and they called me back to say it was wrong, then realised that I was correct and that allowed me not to have a faster time. But it was a great race overall," said Brown.

 

TOP WOMEN

 

The veteran Blagrove covered the course in 23 minutes, .05 seconds, to be the first female to finish. Jozanne Harris was second in 23 minutes, 23 seconds, with third going to Janette Robinson in 24 minutes 22 seconds.

Yesterday's staging saw over 23,000 participants, which included walkers and wheelchair entrants as they turned out to give their support to the Jamaica Cancer Society, Black River Hospital's Paediatric Unit and children with cancer across the island.

Over $43 million was raised and Donovan Perkins, CEO of Sagicor Bank, was very pleased.

"Today was an awesome day and I am very pleased with the support given for this venture. Although we targeted $50 million, we were very close as we got a little over $43 million and this is much better than last year, where we raised about $33m. But each year it gets bigger and better because it is for a worthy cause," said Perkins, who also recognised artistes Ding Dong and Chi Ching Ching for keeping the large crowd entertained.

Also on hand at yesterday's event was Jamaica's World Championships 4x400 metres gold medallist Novlene Williams-Mills, who had the honour of releasing hundreds of balloons before the start of the event.

 

CANCER SURVIVOR

 

Williams-Mills, who is a cancer survivor herself, was delighted to be a part of the activities.

"I am happy to be a part of this as I didn't know that Jamaica had something like this going on over the years; but since being diagnosed with cancer, I realised that there has been so much more going on that I didn't pay attention to when it relates to cancer. But for them to have an event like this, and so many persons turning out and to raise money for the cause, is fantastic and it is indeed an awesome feeling.

"When I got the invitation to come, I said to myself that I could not have missed it. I have no regrets coming as life is just not about running track, and to break my schedule to come and give my support is great," said Williams-Mills.

 

Other top three

 

 

finishers

 

Wheelchair females:

1. Sylvia Grant - 30:33

2. Colleen Morrison - 31:40

3. Maureen Saunders - 39:52

Wheelchair males:

1. Alphanso Cunningham - 28:13

2. Joel Brown - 34:00

3. Andre Morgan - 38:20

Corporate Run

Females (Overall):

1. Gianna Anderson (UWI) - 22:47

2. Chantel Banbury (UWI) - 22:48

3. Gillian Campbell (NCB) - 23:20

Males:

1. Wilfred Wilson (UDC) - 20:08

2. Gerold Palmer (Dunns Electrical) - 20:25

3. Dwayne Smit h (BOJ) - 20:34

Executive Management

1. Ricardo Nuncio (D&G) - 25:55

2. Richard Oliver (RE/MAX Elite)

3. Dalton Myers (UWI)

Open Walk

Females:

1. Olivia McKoy - 33:33

2. Tamara Banton - 33:58

3. Keisha Whittingham - 33:59

Males:

1. Jason Whynn - 32:00

2. Kenardo Phillips - 32:03

3. Lenworth Hunter - 32:06

 

Corporate Team (Females):

1. Berts Auto Parts - 1:54.04

2. Bank of Jamaica - 1:54.53

3. J Wray & Nephew Ltd - 1:57.15

Males:

1. Bank of Jamaica

2. UWI

3. National Commercial Bank