Ballantyne defends successfully Caricom 10K

After faltering in the Heart of Barbados 10K last week Saturday, when he placed third, ace distance runner, Pamenos Ballantyne ran away with the Caricom 10K road race last Sunday morning in Antigua and Barbuda.

In the process, he notched up his fourth title in the race, in as many years of the regional annual exercise that precedes the opening of the yearly Caricom Heads of Governments Summit.{{more}}

Ballantyne clocked 31 minutes 41 seconds. Trailing him to the finish line was Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Jones in 31 minutes 54 seconds, with another Trinidadian Curtis Cox, third.

Ballantyne, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT last Sunday afternoon from Antigua and Barbuda, stated that the route was an easy one, because it was relatively flat.

Alika Morgan, of Guyana, also retained the female title, ahead of the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Christine Regis and Tonya Nero, who finished second and third, respectively.

Before his hiccup in Barbados, Ballantyne also defended the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Uriah Buzz Butler 20K in Trinidad and Tobago, Thursday, June 20.

He added an eighth lien on the event when he crossed the finish line in 1 hour 7 minutes 2 seconds. Docking in second was Trinidadian Curtis Cox, some two minutes and five seconds later in one hour nine minutes forty-seven seconds. Third was Lionel Dandrade in one hour, eleven minutes, thirty one seconds. Ballantyne also holds the record of one hour four minutes.

Ballantyne easily triumphed in the OECS 10K on Sunday, June 15, in Antigua and Barbuda. Ballantyne, the 2007 champion, blew away an unimpressive field in 32 minutes 36 seconds. He was followed by Antiguan Elliot Mason in 34 minutes 26 seconds. For his efforts, Ballantyne pocketed EC$1000.

The latest string of victories, especially in the twin island republic, where he claimed the Toyota 5K in Tobago, the Sugar Energy 5K and the Granny Luccess 15K.

His blemish in Barbados, Ballantyne indicated, was a result of following the wrong route. (RT)