Joseph runs away with Franco 10k again

Zepherinus Joseph is looking to achieve a time of 2 hours 18 minutes at least when he competes in his next marathon. That time would qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Joseph, a St Lucian born distance runner, did himself some favours last Sunday when he outran a field of nearly 20 contenders to win the Franco Construction North Leeward10K for the second time in succession.

Joseph, slim and lithe, made his move into the third kilometre around the Cumberland stretch and from there it was smooth sailing. He finished in 35 minutes, 49.16 seconds at the beach Front Restaurant at Fitz Hughes, in front of a huge crowd that had built up to witness the finish. {{more}}

The race started outside the Old Police Station in Spring Village, and in cool afternoon conditions, Joseph showed that his capture of the event last year was no fluke.

Hundreds of sports loving North Leeward residents stood along the route and cheered the runners as they passed. They were perhaps a little disappointed that Pamenos Ballantye, the Vincentian hero whom they expected to avenge his loss to Joseph last year, would have satisfied their wishes.

Joseph collected $1,000 for his effort.

Ballantyne completed the journey in 37: 23.92.

Third place went to Errol ‘Bald Head’ Williams, known for his background in the two island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. But Williams has opted for a Vincentian identity and has been running under the Vincentian flag in recent times.

Neither he, nor Ballantyne was any match for Joseph.

Joseph from the St. Lucian village of Mon Repos, has a street named after him, in honour of his appearance at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. So if you are in St. Lucia, you pass by the Knockay Avenue.

‘Knockay’ is Zepherinus Joseph’s play name.

It was no fooling for Joseph last Sunday anyway. He is working on completing a degree in Construction Management at Jacksonville North Florida. Sunday’s event was like a warm up for him.

Lisa does it for the girls

Lisa Daniel won the Franco Construction North Leeward 10K in the female category which ended outside the Beach Front Restaurant in Fitz Hughes last Sunday. Her time was 55 minutes, 50.20 seconds. That was ahead of Latoya Sam who, even with home support from her village of Rose Bank, about half way through the race, had to settle for second in 71 minutes, 23.11 seconds.

Daniel from the suburban district of Sion Hill, overlooking capital city Kingstown also beat Intermediate High School’s Jomique Douglas, who placed third in 72 minutes, 40.41 seconds.

Other winners were Rosario Walters from the Petit Bordel Secondary School who won the Under 19 category in 45 minutes, 46.50 seconds. He beat Lawrence Arthur from Georgetown Secondary School into second, and Aster Simon from St Vincent Grammar School who placed third.

Arthur completed the distance in 46: 37.08, while Simon’s was 46: 57.89.

Asher Edwards from West St. George Secondary School won the Under 19 female section in one hour two minutes. That was ahead of Georgetown Secondary’s Shadonna Yearwood in one hour nine minutes 20 seconds, and Laviesha Stapleton from Troumaca Ontario Secondary School.

In was a question of dominance by the Hoopers in Under 15 5K which started in the interior village of Rose Hall.

Sheldon Hooper Caswall Lewis and Antonio John made it a clean sweep for Petit Bordel in the male category of the 5K, while Sandrita Hooper did the trick for the females. Nadica Delpesche running for X-CEED who placed second and Kenisha Fraser from the Georgetown Secondary third, followed her.

Other prizes went to youngest finisher seven-year-old Darriel Browne who was 15th overall in the Under-15 section and Earnest King the oldest person who placed 11th in the open category.