Ross, Johnson bring the energy for Mini-Duathlon

The eventual winner Johnson showed his experience as he dominated the event to power home in a time of 40 minutes and 46 seconds. Securing second place was Jamaican Jassette Bronfield who finished in 41 minutes and 12 seconds with 22-year-old local Avinash Anamalay taking 3rd place in a time of 42 minutes and 57 seconds.

In the women’s category, the consistent Jenna Ross showed her class by blowing away her field to take first place.

Ross, 30-years-old, an Olympic distance champion at the Rainbow Cup Triathlon in Tobago this year, timed a quick 48 minutes and 44 seconds. Well beaten in second place was 25-yearold Mariah Shade (53.38) while Jamie Shearer, 38, was third in 55.17.

Veteran runner Curtis Cox and Samantha Shukla were champs in the lightning fast onelap event which featured some of the region’s top road runners.

The professionals stamped their dominance from the starting line as they raced off with 48-year-old Cox and Johnson setting the pace of the chasing pack. These two matched each other stride for stride for the entirety of the race straight to the finish line with Cox just edging his rival at the line to clock 11 minutes and 55 seconds while Johnson registered a time off 11 minutes and 56 seconds. Another Guyanese Lionel Dandrade just trailed the pair in 12.07.

Among the women, Samantha Shukla was triumphant in 14.21 while Lindsay Mies followed in 14.52. In third place was Arimian April Francis who clocked 15.30.

Earlier, scores of athletes, parents and well-wishers showed up in their numbers to cheer the competitors in a morning which was packed with events. An array of categories and athletes were on showcase from first timers to professionals.

On the agenda was a category titled “babyathlon” with toddlers taking their course on foot then jumping on their tricycles to make their way to the finish line.

There was an event for everyone in a day that was structured in a way that young and old, boys and girls, took part in the duathlon.

In the 5-9 age group category, it was 9-year-old Ross Wortman who lead the pack and finished strongly in a time of 22 minutes and 11 seconds, followed by 8-year-old female Ludmilla Guenther (22.24), with Olivier Fleurwaddell capturing 3rd place in a time of 22.30. The course of this race comprised of a 500m run, followed by a 500m cycle, then onto a 500m race to the finish line.

This race category was followed by the overall kids 10-12 years in a 1km run, a 3.7km cycle ending with a 1km run. This category was keenly contested with 1st – 3rd separated by 14 seconds, with victory going to Ryan Hospedales (18.14), 2nd place to Matthew Wortman (18:15) with Luke Ferreira claiming the 3rd podium spot with a finish of 18.28.

Teens between the ages of 13- 15 competed on the same terrain (1km run/3.7km ride/1km run) and it was Davan Premchan (18.39) who won 1st place ahead of 2nd place Kareem Mason (18.53) and 3rd place finisher Rachel Grosberg (19.02)