NEGRIL, Hanover:

Thirty-two-year-old Physical education teacher, Rupert Green, clocked 2:31:50 to lift the ninth Reggae Marathon championship title in Negril yesterday.

Green eclipsed veteran long-distance runners Linton McKenzie and Justin Henry, who clocked 2:40:11 and 2:56:01, respectively, to cop second and third places.

"Training has been gruelling but it has been great," said Green. "I''ve run about 100-plus miles per week for the last six months and a lot of strength work, because to run the marathon you have to be strong. Last year, I had a grave disappointment where I was leading the race by a huge margin and I fell out after 22 miles. I had the flu at the time and really was not supposed to have run but I did anyway," said Green, who teaches at José Marti Technical High School, where he also trains.

"This year, the aim was to finish and to win," Green pointed out. "Linton McKenzie was with me until about nine miles. I realised he planned to play a cat-and-mouse game with me so I opened about a 15-metre gap on him then and pushed it from there."

The event registered the highest number of participants in its nine-year history, with more than 1,200 persons from several countries across the world participating. And according to race director, Alfred Francis, yesterday's event was the most successful Reggae Marathon to date.

"The spirit is good here. The numbers are the largest we have ever had and everybody seems to be enjoying themselves and having a good time. It is a significant achievement for a country that is sprint-oriented," said Francis.

In other events, 18-year-old Kemoy Campbell of Bellefield High School clocked 30:25 to retain his title in the 10K, with Daren Lindsay and Rogeek Rochester placing second and third, respectively.

Drama

In the female category, 18-year-old Manchester High student Natoya Goule had a winning time of 37:30, followed by Twishana Williams and Petrene Plummer.

There was drama in the half marathon when Kirk Brown of Clarendon and his teammate, Shawn Pitter of the Portmore-based Ebony Track Club, tumbled together at the finish line, both clocking 1:10:11. Brown, who was declared the winner, said his legs gave way at the end. The duo was followed by Gregory McKenzie of Manchester, who clocked 1:11:31.

In the female category of the half marathon, G.C. Foster College's Stacy Bell clocked 1:27:27 ahead of Kamoy Reid and Michelle Harburg.