Leslie, Ponder top Reggae Marathon

Jamaica's Kemar Leslie and England's Rosamund Ponder emerged as back-to-back winners of the respective male and female half marathon at yesterday's 24th staging of Reggae Marathon, along with the Half-Marathon, 10K & 5K in the tourist town, Negril.

Held at Long Bay Beach Park in the Westmoreland, Reggae Marathon attracted athletes from over 25 countries. More than 1,200 participants came in from as early as 3 a.m. to experience the mix of sport, music and camaraderie that has made the race a specialty.

Leslie won in 1:15:46, while Ponder, no stranger to running in Jamaica, won in 1:32:01.

"I have run a lot of half-marathons. I won the full marathon before they changed it. I came back this year with blood in my eyes to win this year and I did so. My motivation is to have a running world, I love running," said Leslie.

He finished ahead of fellow Jamaicans Garfield Gordon (1:16:16) and Kamar Thomas (1:17:31).

"It was a joy running this morning. I developed a cramp in my side about eight miles, but my legs were feeling good. I put the training in, so I wanted to show that out there," Leslie added.

Ponder finished ahead of Jamaica's Cecile Heinrich (1:33.56), while her fellow Londoner Sophie Anderson (1:37.18) took third.

"I have been coming back here for the last four or five years to run this race and I think my energy and effort just comes from the crowd. All the runners on the other side cheer you on and it is really cool and keeps you going," she admitted.

"I have won the full and half-marathons four times. This race is really a bit of fun. It is part of my holiday to come over every year. I run seriously back in England, so once a year I will do a hard, fast race, and back here it is just for fun," admitted Ponder.

The secondary events proved quite exciting, with high-schoolers dominating the 10K and a mixture of local and overseas talent for the inaugural 5K.

First-time runner, 17-year-old Kenyan St. Jago High's Ryan Achau took home the male 10K crown in 32:53. Second place went to Belmont Academy's Roquelme Johnson (36:10), and St. Jago's 14-year-old St Cory Christie (36:17) placed third.

"My coach worked hard to provide me with the best programme. That is why I try to push myself today, to show him that it is effective," Achau said. "My school has great belief in me, so that drove me to go and win the race. This road race is a reflection of what my next track season will look like, so it is a part of my preparation for the championship."

Among the females, 12-year-old first-timer Shannya Palmer (42.39) was one of the highlights, emerging second in the event won by third-time consecutive winner, Holmwood Technical High's Cindy Rose (40:15). Terrica Clarke (42.44) took third.

The Jamaican males dominated in the 5K with Raheem Chambers winning in 16.24, as Garth Abbot (18:54) placed second and Dane Cunningham (19:25) third.

Canada's Sasha Gollish secured the female equivalent in 19:06, with Jamaica's Gizelle James (23:12) second and Latanya Johnson (24:07) third.

St Jago High finished as the top school in both the male and female categories.