Former Sportswoman-of-the-Year Alisha Fortune is elated with the buzz that has been surrounding the Alisha Fortune and Caroline Forde One Mile race which is expected to be held this morning at 06:30hrs in the National Park.
Fortune told Stabroek Sport that based on the responses that the event has been getting from the athletes and the corporate sector, she expects a very exciting competition. She added that she was pleased that persons bought into the concept of a race that will require competitors to complete one lap of the National Park as that was not the original idea for the event.
“Originally we were going to hold a track meet but after we changed it to a one mile event. We chose a one mile event so that we could have middle and long distance athletes as well as sprinters competing,” Fortune said.
With this variety of competitors, Fortune said it should definitely be an exciting and unpredictable event especially since it will be held in the National Park. The former national sprint and bodybuilding champion who is still competing in both sports at 37-years-old, said that the event is reminiscent of the Golden Mile. That event was consistently held years several years ago but was somehow omitted from the local track and field calendar of event. Fortune said that it is her intention to ensure that this event becomes an annual event and is able to expand and attract even more competitors in subsequent editions.
The theme of the event according to Fortune is “Running back, Giving back. If you believe it you can achieve it.”
Fortune said that there will be trophies, hampers as well as cash incentive for winners and top performers in their respective categories. Categories include the Open men and women categories, the junior male and female categories and the masters’ category for both men and women. There will also be prizes for the oldest and youngest male and female competitors as well as first male and female finishers from Beterverwagting.
Some of the sponsors of the One Mile race include Ansa McAl, Najab Trading, Gizmos and Gadgets, Geddes Grants Limited, Farfan and Mendes, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Merimand’s Funeral Home.
