Junior Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill (right) makes a point to Ramone Arscott of the Violence Prevention Alliance (centre) and Reggae Marathon race director Alfred Francis at yesterday's launch of Reggae Marathon at the Altamont Court Hotel, New Kingston. - PHOTO BY ANTHONY FOSTER
THREE-TIME champion and course record holder Pamenos Ballantyne of St. Vincent and the Grenadines heads a list of five international athletes confirmed for this year's fifth staging of the Reggae Marathon in Negril, Westmoreland on December 3.
Kenyans Albert Omboga and Joseph Nderitu and Michael Wardian of the United States, along with 2003 female champion Denise Knickman, also of the US, are the other overseas runners.
Though he has done under the Jamaica course record of 2:21.05 by running 2:15.30 at the Trinidad and Tobago Clico Marathon, Ballantyne should be tested by Omboga who has competed in marathons in Africa and Malaysia and boasts a best time of 2:13.35.
Nderitu is a three-time winner of the Ottawa Marathon, last winning in 2:15.29 while Wardian placed 33rd at the US trials in 2004 in 2:22.40.
TALBERT TO COMPETE
Jamaica's leading runner on the road, Wainard Talbert, who failed to finish last year's event - his first marathon, will once again take part.
Knickman, who won in 2003, will be tested by Jamaican defending champion Areita Martin.
Race director Alfred Francis said this year's event would be special.
"This year is special for us and preparations are in high gear as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Reggae Marathon," Francis said.
"The willingness of these elite athletes to participate in our event when they could have chosen others is a testament to the fact that we are now well established on the international race calendar," he said.
He also said, "we do much better than others when it comes to runner care".
Francis, who is also chairman of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association's (JAAA) Road Racing Committee, thanked the local governing body for its financial contribution, which was not disclosed.
BLESSINGS
JAAA president Howard Aris gave his blessings to the event at yesterday's launch, which took place at the Altamont Court Hotel, New Kingston.
Apart from praising the organisers for their tremendous work over the years, he said the JAAA would do everything possible to assist the venture.
Also in attendance was Junior Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill, who used the occasion to ask Negril and Jamaica "to help us sell the Negril Marathon as the place to be December 1-3".
Again, the male and female winners will take the Bob and Rita Marley Trophies and 33 per cent of the prize money, which is now US$2,000.
Meanwhile, the Half Marathon winners will take home $US1,000 each.
Francis also announced that live music, provided by five bands, will be on the course for this year's four-star rated event.
