A review of the Men's Race
A review of the men’s Race
The men’s CariFin cross country ’09 race promised a lot of excitement and expectation. It very well be said to be the most anticipated events on the day’s card at CariFin Cross Country and Family Day at Sevilla Golf on Sunday May 31, 2009..
1. Could Nikosi Mc Leish won this and make it three in a row
2. Who would win the team champion trophy? GHL or RBTT?
3. Would debutant Jean Marc De Boulet make any impact like the ones he made in the Urban Challenge?
Catherine Kumar President and Country Leader of RBTT Bank started the race by sounding the starter’s horn.
The race unfolded beautifully for Nikosi mc Leish with the rabbit doing most of the work in the early part of the first lap.
Mc Leish continued his dominance from the urban Challenge, where he won all three previous running events.
So it was no surprise to see the familiar tall, lanky figure of Mc Leish leading the race. Strength, determination and courage have to be the hallmark attribute that has to be demonstrated on a course like this, with tight corners, undulating terrain.
After 2 laps of the 3 lap’s event of the 6.2 miles course – Mc Leish was still leading the race.
From the start to the beginning of the course took him 2min 22 seconds and the first loop of the course was covered in 7.14, the second loop was done a little slower time of 7.29 and the third in 7.39 and from the course to the finish line he sprinted in 48 seconds giving him a race time of 25.32.
A case of which he was slowing down after each lap, but the competition wasn’t even close to cause any threat.
The traditional competition of his arch rival and friend Rodney Julien who would of being able to take the race to him and give him the kind of high level competition that these races need to stay alive was not there. Or John Warren formerly of GHL who had the kind of leg speed to trouble Mc Leish was not a factor in the race. So the die was probably already cast even before the starter’s horn was blown to start the race.
Gilford Mornix of GHL did a three months crash course training program to get ready for CariFin … and it worked well enough to get him in second place, beating off John Donaldson, his team mate Ian Gibbs and jean Marc Deboulet.
The Team Trophy
Team GHL won the “Champions Trophy” quite easily with two of the top five finishers wearing GHL colors in first and third places. And to show their strength and team work concept place another three runners in the next five of the top ten. Jade Camps in 7th place Ryan Pierre in 8th and Quacy Sandy in 9th.
The Debutant
Jean Marc Deboulet didn’t have the kind of success he had in the Urban Challenge at Sevilla, the undulating terrain was his undoing. He had to resort to walking on some occasions on the course to catch his breath. Being a debutant in the event didn’t help; Sevilla isn’t known to give any considerations to first timers or newbie. It was a baptism of fire from the time he hit the loop of the course.
But he was able to steer the course and bring in his ship home in 5th place. Hopefully he could see the benefits of a consistent training program and with the help of people like Stanley Butcher of First Citizens we can very well see some more competitive running among the men.
Long standing performers
Let recognize the annual efforts of runners like Clem Jubrasingh and Leroy Calliste of RBTT Bank who have been long standing participants in this event and CariFin as a whole.
Shastri Girwar
Special mention must go to Shastri Girwah of RBL who tested himself by doing all four athletic events on the day.
Shastri too has been a long standing supporter and participant in these games and have been featured as “Personality of the Month” winner.
And with the introduction of the walking category of the Urban Challenge he has found a niche where he can enjoy some measure of success. So we are grateful to see him continue to motivate himself and maintain a level of fitness, that most people his age could only admire to aspire.
