Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Defending male champion Shawn Pitter and last year's second-place finisher in the women's segment, Deandra Williams, topped yesterday's Sigma Sagicor Corporate Run 5.5KM Run/Walk road race charity event in New Kingston.

Organisers of the annual charity had targeted $17m and according to assistant vice president of Sigma Marketing Group, Ingrid Card, it was a huge success.

"We are extremely proud of today's venture as we have achieved our objectives. Our aim was to raise $17 million, but we surpassed that as we have raised over $21.6 million and also we had a record number of participants registering as it was some 22,368 and everybody is happy," shared Card.

Four organisations benefited from yesterday's event. They are the Sickle Cell Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Sickle Cell Trust in Mandeville, Special Care Nursery at UHWI and Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation.

IMPRESSIVE FORM

Pitter, who will be participating in this weekend's NACAC Cross Country Championships in Tobago, stopped the clock at 16 minutes 29 seconds and in the process, bettered his winning time of 16:59 set a year ago. He was surprised with the fast time.

"Only the night before I learnt that the Cross Country Cham-pionships was this coming weekend and I went into today's race with a little reservation as I wanted to save enough for that event," said Pitter, who stated that he only went fast in the final kilometre.

Dwayne Graham finished second in 16:37, with third going to Garfield Gordon in 17:36.

Among the females, Williams, representing Mavis Bank, continued her impressive form on the road this season as she went one place better this time around. Like the male champion, she won easily, completing the course in 19:55.

Second-place Danielle James clocked 19.56, while third went to Juliette Dinnal in 22.39.

Lady Patricia Allen, wife of the governor general, and Tessanne Chin, winner of 'The Voice', were patrons of the event.

The other meet patron, Olympic and World Championship gold medallist Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce, was unable to attend as she had competed at an IAAF Permit Indoor Meet in Birmingham the previous day.

Chin sang the national anthem before the start of the race.

OTHER WINNERS

FEMALE WHEELCHAIR

1. Cherry Whyte - 36:00

2. Maureen Saunders - 39:12

3. Sophia Johnson - 43:12

MALE WHEELCHAIR

1. Sheldon Cox - 23:52

2. Alphanso 'Tanto' Cunningham - 26:58

3. Jeneard Williamson - 29:05

FEMALE WALK

1. Karlene Blagrove - 36:08

2. Nyasha Heaven - 37:28

3. Catherine Stewart - 38:00

MALE WALK

1. Rohan Gordon - 30:43

2. Andre Smith - 30:44

3. Maxwell Smith - 31:01

CORPORATE FEMALE

1. Patricia Whyte (Magna) - 24:24

2. Jozanne Harris (Sun Island) - 24:44

3. Kadian Williams (NCB) - 25:37

CORPORATE MALE

1. Henroy Lewis (Nestle) - 18:45

2. Ricardo Edwards (UDC) - 25:23

3. Dwayne Smith (BOJ) - 25:27

LARGEST CORPORATE TEAM

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