Pamemos Ballantyne second in Guyana 10k

GEORGETOWN: Caribbean distance-running champion Pamenos Ballantyne, of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), continued his busy road-racing season with a second place finish in the South American 10-Kilometre Road Classic on Sunday.

Brazilian Romala da Silva pulled clear near the finish to win in 30 minutes 31 seconds, chased by Ballantyne (30:51) and another Brazilian Elnilson da Silva (31:02). Cleveland Forde, Guyana’s two-time and reigning CARIFTA 5,000-metre champion, stayed with the front group for most of the race before fading to place fourth in 31:13. Ballantyne, coming off a fourth place finish in the ScotiaBank Toronto Half Marathon in Canada last month, has several major assignments before the year is out, including the November 2 Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Half Marathon in St Kitts, where he will be aiming for a remarkable ninth consecutive win in the 13.1-mile event. Brazilians completed the double when Selma Dos Reis captured the women’s category in 37:14, ahead of her teammate Marlene Fortunado (37:15). Colombia’s Yolanda Fernandez was third in 37:39 and Guyana’s Delcie Dick placed fourth.