Leach latches on to Bequia 5K

Jemmerson Leach, a fourth form student of the Bequia Community High School, won the Bequia version of the Francis Lau Road races series.

The 15-year-old, who is endowed with natural athletic ability, clocked 21 minutes 36.5 seconds, to beat the more experienced Dwight Baptiste into second place. {{more}}Baptiste, who led for most of the race, ended the Paget Farm to Port Elizabeth event in 22 minutes 07 seconds.

Third was Lawrence Arthur of the Georgetown Secondary School (GSS) in 23 minutes 58.73 seconds.

Notshia Delecia of the North Union Secondary won the female category. The 15-year-old who was born in Bequia, but resides at Bridgetown, Biabou, on mainland, St.Vincent, returned a time of 32 minutes 0.05 seconds.

She was followed to the finish line at the renowned ‘Almond Tree’, by Shadonna Yearwood and Shanna Toby, both of the GSS.

The race, which lacked support from athletes on the island, saw one participant in the Under-15 category. Rommel Horne of the Thomas Saunders Secondary clocked 34 minutes 24.96 seconds. Laura Pompey won the female version of the sub -15 age category in 32 minutes 0. 06 seconds.

Nineteen persons started the race, which began just outside the J.F Mitchell Airport, with fifteen finishing.

The Bequia road race formed part of the Team Athletics SVG’s caravan, and culminated a weekend of athletics promotion on the ‘Island of Clouds’.

However the planned training session on Saturday was cancelled due to lack of interest.

On November 20, it will be the turn of athletes from the Windward side of the island. An all-Windward race is set for that day and crowns off the road races schedule for 2005.

The Road Races Committee of TASVG is in a state of expectancy as the next race nears.