Pamenos Ballantyne says his mind is set on winning his fifth straight CARICOM 10K but Guyana’s Cleveland Forde is aiming to continue his recent dominant form
One of the Caribbean’s most decorated distance athlete Pamenos Ballantyne says that winning today’s annual CARICOM 10K road race for the fifth year is the only thing on his mind.
The St Vincent and the Grenadines native is considered the `King’ of the 10K event but Guyana’s Cleveland Forde, who is enjoying a good season on the road, says that being at home is a definite morale booster as he sets to compete in the race for the first time.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport after his arrival yesterday, Ballantyne declared that he was in perfect condition for the race and was not even thinking about the competition.
“Well, I’m here to win as always and I’m healthy and I know that all the athletes are in good shape as well because we all have been training especially for the Caribbean Games and also we have been competing against each other steadily so we all know what the other has to give,” said the islander.
Ballentyne said he expected tough competition from all the athletes but added that he expected Forde to come to prove a point as he was competing at home.
“I’m not looking at any one athlete really, but I know Cleveland is going to come strong. He’s at home and the pressure would be on him to do well. He piped me by two seconds in Barbados to win the 10K race there but like I said, every race is different and you can never tell what could happen, I’m just going out there to do my best,” said Ballantyne.
Forde on the other hand said that he would certainly be under pressure to win at home.
“Running at home especially in this race certainly puts me in position to win or at least do my best because a lot of people expect me to do well but it’s just the right amount needed to come out on top” Forde said.
He lauded the interest shown to the event by the public and thanked the local media for their role in hyping the race.
“Well I think the media did a great job at how they brought interest to the race and it is good because it gives you good motivation and it is good also when you see people coming out to witness a 10K race…right now I really want to win this race but I’m not looking at no one, I’m just going out there to do my thing,” Forde noted.
This year, the Guyanese has been taking the Caribbean by storm winning all of the road races so far and with this he hopes he can add the CARICOM 10K to his name.
“It’s a good feeling that I have been winning so far this year but to win this race would mean a lot me because it’s the first time that I’m taking part. I know Pamenos is the champion but I’m not thinking about him or any other of the athletes, I just want to go out there and win at home,” the diminutive athlete mentioned. According to the organisers of the race, this year’s event is set to be the biggest in the five year history of the event. Each CARICOM member state was mandated to send two athletes to represent them but Guyana was given a special concession and will be fielding six.
Forde will join defending female champion Alika Morgan, Jervina Straker, Jonathon Fergundes, Cleveland Thomas and Ashanti Scott.
Only athletes in the International category would be eligible for the US$1200, $900 and $700 cash prizes while those in the Open, masters and tourist and visitors divisions would get a compulsory T Shirt and trophies.
The race will start at 7am in front of the Caricom Secretariat at Liliendaal and proceed east on the railway embankment road to Ogle and then turn north onto the East Coast highway and head west to Carifesta Avenue.
Runners will then head south onto Camp Street and make their way into the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary for the finish.
The event is being held in recognition of the Caricom Heads of Government summit where Guyana’s President, Bharrat Jagdeo would be taking over chairmanship of the Caribbean Community.