By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
VETERAN road runner Linton McKenzie and Nadine Henry were the only two Jamaicans in the top three positions at Saturday's inaugural Reggae Marathon day in Negril.
Both finished third overall in the half-marathon event that started early in the morning and attracted well over 800 runners for both events. The events that offered attractive prizes and trophies saw a wide cross section of Jamaicans and visitors donning their shorts with over 600 completing the gruelling course.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Pamenos Ballantyne and Russian Ramila Burangulova took the main prizes however as they ran away with the men's and women's marathon titles respectively.
Among those taking part were 400 recovering heart patients from the American Heart Association.
The age of the competitors ranged from 14 year-old Negril resident Oliver Cargill who competed in the half-marathon to 72 year-old Californian John Nelson who completed the marathon in 6:32.16. Another Californian Vera Jashni, aged 71 of Thousand Oaks also completed the event.
The 41 year-old McKenzie was third in the half-marathon that was won by the Kenyan Moses Macharia in a time of 1:08.32 with the American Eddy Hellebuyck in second place in 1:08.53. McKenzie's time was 1:11.05 while another Jamaican, Michael Tomlin was fifth.
Kenyan Jackline Toror won the women's half marathon in 1:16.12 with Gille Larlshoj of Denmark second with Henry third in 1:16.32.
The 27 year-old Ballantyne who competed at the last Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia and the World Championships in Canada earlier this year, completed the 26.2 miles course in 2:21.05, just ahead of the Kenyan Josph Sitienei who finished with a time of 2:21.20 and the American Peter Delacerda-2: 28.57.
Ballantyne collected the Bob Marley trophy and first prize of US$5,000 for his efforts.
The 40 year-old Burangulova was a comfortable winner in the female section, finishing the race in 2:42.25, nearly two minutes ahead of Wioletta Kryza of Holland who finished in 2:44.11 while American Tammy Slusser was third in 3:00.14.
Burangulova took home the Rita Marley trophy as well as the winner's prize of US$5000.
The Russian who now lives just outside of Warsaw, Poland and who set her best time of 2:33.45 two years ago told the Gleaner she enjoyed her first time in Jamaica a lot and was looking forward to returning next year to defend her title.
Despite the weather being "very hot" she found the course a challenging one but did to run a very well paced race. She said the first half, which was mostly flat was quite easy but added that the "little hills" in the second half were, however, not much of a challenge.
She also had high praises for the organisers of the event and said everything went smoothly.
The first five places in each section took home cash awards.
Twenty-seven year-old Kingstonian Phillip Edwards was the first Jamaican to complete the marathon course, finishing seventh overall with Colin Graham of St. Ann in 10th place, Hurley Stewart of Kingston in 11th place and Owen Greaves also of Kingston in 13th place also doing well.
The first Jamaican female Ann-Marie Shaw finished in 43rd position, three places ahead of Lorna Williams.
A number of prominent Jamaicans also took part in the events. Heather Facey finished 31st overall in the half marathon, well ahead of Paul Facey who was 64th.
Senator Douglas Orane was 110th overall and was fifth in his age group - Men's 50-59; while Michelle Marzouca, Darrell Burgess, Stephen A. Graham and radio personality Michael Cuffe were among the 224 runners who completed the course. Cuffe was seventh in the Men's 50-59 category.
General Manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Wain Iton was 58th of the 400 finishers in the marathon event and ninth overall in the Men's 40-49 age group.
Top five Male Marathon
finishers
Pamenos Ballantyne- St. Vincent 2:21.05
Josph Sitienei Kenya 2:21.20
Peter Delacerda USA 2:28.57
Jackson Omweri Kenya
Wilson Cheruyiotchu Kenya
Top five female marathon finishers
Ramila Burangulova Russia 2:42.25
Wioletta Kryza Holland 2:44.11
Tammy Slusser USA 3:00.14
Sarah Keller USA
Robin Treder USA
Top five male half-marathon finishers
Moses Macharia Kenya 1:08.32
Eddy HellebuyckUSA1:08.53
Linton McKenzie Jam. 1:11.05
James Bungie Kenya
Michael Tomlin Jam.
Top five female
half-marathon finishers
Jackline Toror Kenya 1:16.12
Gille Larlshoj Denmark 1:16.32
Nadine Henry Jamaica
Arieta Martin Jamaica
Tamara Goeppe Canada
