Defending champion Cleveland Forde completed a successful title defence of the first stage of the 10th annual IAAF CONSUDATLE South American 10km Classic Road with a last gasp sprint to the finish at the Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary yesterday.
Forde did not lead the race until the final 300m inside the Police Sports Club ground and for about 200m of the last 300m, he was stride for stride with Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) athlete Matthew Hagley. Forde had to overcome a lead of more than 100m to go with less than 1000m remaining in the race. Hagley finished third after compatriot Richard Jones (32:38s) stole second place from him during the final 100m. Curtis Cox also of T&T finished fourth while junior competitor Nathaniel Giddings (34:33s) placed fifth and Dennis Horatio (34:48s) sixth.
Forde won the race this year in 33 minutes, 35 seconds which was slower than his time in last year’s edition (32:39.7s) by almost a minute. Cleveland Thomas placed seventh overall while
