Holassie wins Southern Games 5,000m

TRINIDAD and Tobago marathon record holder Ronnie Holassie took gold in the men’s 5,000 metres at the Southern Games at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre yesterday.

The Miami-based Holassie crossed the finishing line in 15 minutes 31.52 seconds, ahead of American American Eddie Ernest Jones 15:35:01 and Cantius Thomas of Health Olympians 16:73.01. But the race was robbed of some interest as leading Caribbean long distance runner and CLICO Trinidad Marathona winner and record holder Pamenos Ballantyne did not compete. Emerging Tobagonian sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste won the sprint double when she claimed the 200m in a quick 23.31, followed by Jamaica’s Sherry-Ann Brooks (24.11) and Zenith’s Crystal Skeete (24.19). Baptiste copped the women’s 100m on Saturday in 11.50 seconds. And Guyanese sprinter Andre Blackman also completed the double, taking the half-lap yesterday in 21.14. Blackman clocked 10.34 to win the 100m on Saturday.

Antiguan long-distance queen Janil Williams was beaten by Phoenix’s Denile De Verteuil in the 800m, with De Verteuil clocking 2:16.14 to Williams’ 2:18.84, while Karlene McLean of Eagles third in 2:23.56. But Williams gained a measure of revenge moments later, winning the 3,000m in 11:14.25. And the Antiguan teenager (4:50.23) continued her dominance in the 1,500m on Saturday. CARIFTA prospects pilar McShine, Jamal James and reigning champ Simeon Bovell were all triumphant in the half-mile yesterday, with the dreadlocked McShine taking the girls Under-17 in 2:33.26; James the boys U-17 in 2:00.38 and Bovell the boys U-20 in 1:52.26. But Cuban world rated match sprint cyclist Julio Cesar Herrera was the highlight of the two-day meet.

The 1994 World Junior and four-time Pan-American match sprint champion, showed that he is still one of the top pedal pushers as he dominated the shorter distance on the banked-grass track, outpedalling the international field in the Southern Wholesale Stores 500 metres in a time of 48.44 seconds on Saturday. And, in front of a vocal crowd yesterday, Herrera captured the Roger Gibbon Match Sprint Trophy after defeating countryman Michael Pedrosa in two straight rides (14.31 and 13.39 secs).