Guyana’s national long distance ambassador Cleveland Forde will be competing in the 12th edition of the Venture Credit Union 5km race in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago which was scheduled to begin at about 0700hrs this morning.
The 27-year old national 5000m and 1500m record holder warmed up for the event this week at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Inter Unit Athletic Championships. There, Forde completed two impressive wins in the 1500m and 5000m before he departed yesterday.
Forde clocked just over four minutes (4:03.6) in the 1500m, a very respectable time but he was more pleased with his 5000m time on Tuesday. In that event, Forde lapped the entire field and stopped the clock at 15 minutes 19.8seconds (15:19.8s), which was close to the time that he had predicted before the race.
Following that event Forde said that he was pleased with his performance and added that it gave him an accurate idea of where he is prior to today’s race. Additionally, Forde said that he may be tempted to chase after the Venture 5km’s event record as he feels is capable of breaking it.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Guardian newspapers website reported that organisers will be offering an attractive cash incentive for any athlete that breaks the existing record which is just under 15 minutes. Forde’s personal record in the 5000m on the track is 14:07.08s and he ran 14:29.46s as far recent as the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
Defending champion Trinidadian Richard Jones is expected to compete as well as seasoned long distanced campaigner Curtis Cox also from T&T. Forde has beaten both of those challengers on several occasions including at home at the South American 10km classic. Just last Sunday, Forde won the Ainlim 10km road race and is expected to compete in several other local and regional road races in the next two months to bring an end to his 2012 season.
