Marlon Nicholson and Sheama Tyrell both of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are the 2021 South American 10K Road Classic Champions.
Nicholson clocked a brisk 33m:27.80s in perfect conditions for running on the flat course to win the local leg of the 19th edition of the event yesterday.
His valiant rivals, Winston Missigher (33:38.30) and Odwin Tudor (33:39.30) followed in second and third positions for the all-local race which started off from the GTT Earth Station on CARIFESTA Avenue, proceeded to UG road and finished inside the National Park near the Children’s Monument.
In 2019, Kenyan athletes, Alex Ekesa and Veronica Jepkostei came, saw and conquered winning the Open male and female categories of the Classic respectively. However, due to the pandemic no foreign athletes could have competed in the meet which traditionally attracts international runners.
In the statement win of his career, Nicholson, a 25-year-old Private in the GDF, attributed his victory to his ‘resilience’ and hard work. Nicholson, who made a tactical and winning move in the final kilometre near Camp Ayangana, stated that he made his debut in the event and hence wanted it to be memorable.
While it was Nicholson’s first time competing in the Classic, Tyrell successfully defended her title in dominant fashion.
Tyrell clocked 41m:16.09s, up from 43:00.87 (her winning time last year) to claim her win way ahead of Aliyah Headley and Assatta Eastman who finished second and third in times of 45:33.00 and 48:29.02 respectively.
Matthew Gordon and Adriel Austin won in the boys and girls junior category respectively.
For their heroics, Nicholson and Tyrell were awarded US$1000 apiece for coming up trumps in the men and women’s senior classes. As an added incentive, the dynamic duo also received medals made of Guyana’s famous gold.
The first, second, third and fourth runners up pocketed $US600, $400, $US300 and US$200 along with trophies respectively.
Junior athletes (16-20 years) as well as Masters (Women 35+), Men (40-55) and (56 and above) also took home trophies and cash prizes.
The top four juniors received vouchers or grants valued at US$100, US$75, US$50 and US$25 while the top four Masters (Women 35+), and Men (40-55) ran off with GY$20,000 GY$12,000 and GY$8,000 respectively. Masters (56 and above) top three finishers collected G$15,000, G$10,000 and G$5,000 in that order.
The event was sponsored by the National Sports Commission, Banks DIH Limited, Guyana Energy, Star Party Rental and others.
