George Henry, Freelance WriterSPALDINGS, Clarendon:
MORE THAN 500 runners are down to compete in today's 23rd staging of the High Mountain 5K and 10K Road Races at Williamsfield in Manchester.
John O. Minott, whose High Mountain Coffee Company is the major sponsor of the event, told The Gleaner yesterday that this afternoon's staging of the annual event will see more than 250 runners vying for the top spot in the 10K, while a similar number is expected to be at the starting line for the 5K event.
Minott said none of the defending champions from last year's staging of the 10K will be competing and so this year will see new champions crowned in the 10K for males and females.
Last year's winner in the male 10K, Michael Tomlin, is unable to defend his title due to business commitments he has overseas, said Minott. He also said Rian Landers from the Shore Athletics Club in the United States, who won the female 10K last year, was unable to make it this time around.
KEEN COMPETITION
However, Minott said all was set and that the events promised keen competition especially from the younger runners. Holmwood's Waynard Talbert is expected to put on a good show while continuing his good run since the start of the local athletic season.
The 10K male and female winner will this year take away with $20,000 and the second-place finishers will take home $15,000.
Cash awards, trophies, medals, gift packages and other prizes will be awarded to other winners. The winners in the 10K will be given cell phones courtesy of Digicel. The first ten runners in both events will receive cash incentives. All finishers will be given incentives as well.
The winners in the 5K, which is for runners age 16 and under, will get $7,500 towards their education from a scholarship fund which is in honour of the founder of the main sponsors, the late L.O. Minott. They will also get trophies in memory of the late Lincoln 'Tippy' Williams, a long-time official at the road race who passed away two years ago.
2:30 PM START
Canadian High Commissioner Claudio Valle will fire the starter's gun to signal the start of the races this afternoon. The 5K will start at 2:30 p.m. and the 10K at 3:30 p.m.
Minott also said paraplegic participants from the Mona Rehabilitation Centre will be competing in this year's event. They will be doing the 5K route in their wheelchairs. The wheelchair event starts at 2:20 p.m.
More than 10,000 enthusiastic supporters are expected to line the gruelling track which mounts the Winston Jones Highway and snakes through Kendal, Shooters Hill, by the Kirkvine Windalco gates to the finish line at Williamsfield.
