2 Mile participants in the early stages of the race. L-R; Raheem "Ras" Taylor, Richard Francis, Khiry Creque, Howard Moore, Steven Asson and Alliston "Allie" Blyden. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—Steven Asson ran unchallenged then propelled himself into select territory during Saturday’s fourth race of the Highland Spring College Classic Series on Tortola.

Never mind Maxford Pipe, the Virgin Gordon champion was in the race, or Rasheed Richards who won the last race when illness reduced Asson to a mere spectator.

It was simply Asson’s day. The St. Lucia born athlete chopped 35 seconds off his previous best and came within seven seconds of Lyndel Roberts’ 1997 course record of 10 minutes, 45.3 seconds, with his time of 10:52.47. It was among the top five times ever run in the 12-year history of the event.
Richards was second in a personal best of 11:27.39 while Pipe placed third in 12:27.60.

“I felt like I ran the hardest I’ve ever run from all the times I’ve run in the College Classic. That’s how I’ve been feeling about it. Probably the time is slower, but, while I was running, that’s what I was feeling,” Asson said before his time was revealed and a broad smile engulfed his face. “Oh really? I felt it,” he exclaimed. “During the last two weeks after I was sick, I was saying if I could run the first mile in five minutes, I knew I’d run a faster time. Now I see that I’m improving.”

Asson’s plan is to assassinate the record during the series finale on Nov 22.

Virgin Gorda champ Pipe said missing two days of training reduced his fitness level. He said the course is a lot harder than the one in Virgin Gorda, because on Tortola, you’re going up all the time. “The energy I put out was a lot going up as I was in second, and you needed a lot of energy,” he revealed. “On the downhill coming back, you need some energy, but these guys know the track and they came down very hard.”

Richards said the race was interesting and Asson put on an interesting pace, which was hard to follow. “I really wanted to see what the guy from Virgin Gorda was made of, so I pulled up on him,” Richards recalled. “On the second half of the race, I saw that he didn’t look like much, so, I made a move and then I heard him say ‘wow’ and he had nothing to fire back so I just kept moving.”

Nayalia Smith handed defending champion Darwn Peters her second loss in as many races to win the women’s division in 14:47.03. Her time broke Chantel Malone’s 2006 course record of 14:51.76. course “I was shocked,” Smith said. “She has always been wining. I didn’t expect to beat her.”

Race director Stephanie Russ said it was a great race and she’s looking forward to the finale. “I will be pretty interesting to see who ends up with the overall crown especially in the female, but I think its pretty clear among the males,” she said. “Some division races are very close. I love that final event because a lot of persons don’t expect that they would have gone home with a medal and it will be god to see their faces all happy and bright when they realize that in their division, they are either first, second or third.”

Two-Mile Men: 1. Steven Asson, 10:52.47. 2. Rasheed Richard, 11:27.39. 3. Maxford Pipe, 12:27.60. 4. Alliston Blyden, 12:47.69. 5. Richard Francis, 13:04.24. 6. Naje Smith, 13:09.34. 7. Zebalon McLean, 14:06.15. 8. Teymahl Huggins, 14:15.01. 9. Rowan Victor, 14:34.48. 10. Ray Victor, 14:34.48. 11. Dione Blyden, 14:38.67. 12. Tramore Frazer, 14:44.62. 13. Howard Moore, 15:19.64. 14. Robert McIntyre, 15:32.41. 15. Shavon Linton, 15:37.00. 16. William McIntyre, 15:39.68. 17. Nicoy Hendrickson, 15:43.58. 18. Dylan Penn, 15:53.50. 19. James Nicholas, 16:00.94. 20. Joash Victor, 16:42.50. 21. Elvette Dore. Jr.,18.05.61. 22. Harry Thompson, 19:05.29. 23. Joshua Clarence, 19:08.61. 24. Jim Cullimore, 19:12.89. 25. Otis Jacobs, 19:51.97. 26. Lenroy Grant, 20:45.07. 27. Andy Latchman, 20:54.23. 28. Zeondre Penn, 21:03.50. 29. Ken Morgan, 21:50.27. 30. Glenal Layne, 23:07.32.

Women: 1. Kay Reddy, 14:50.57. 2. Darwn Peters, 14:56.48. 3. Sally Blackmore, 16:05.40. 4. Saungie Liburd, 16:08.03. 5. Jacqueline Wilson, 16:35.39. 6. Laura Dore, 16:48.28. 7. Philomena Robertson, 17:07.20. 8. Simone Dabreo, 18:58.30. 9. Rene Clarence, 19:09.60. 10. Ilette Weeks 20:29.32. 11. Joan Farara, 20:34.84. 12. D’Wanya Blyden, 21:15.48. 13. Dawn Crabbe-Herbert, 21:33.79. 14. Joy Victor, 23:16.32. 15. Rose Parke, 23:28.21. 16. Anais Gordon, 23:58.18. 17. Sophie Nicholas, 24:17.08. 18. Nakita John, 24:25.81. 19. Natasha Nicholas, 24:37.49. 20. Aiesha Daniel, 26:22.02. 21. Eva Baskin, 26:50.74. 22. Rea Garcia, 33:38.60. 23. Alexia Mitcham, 34:03.79.

Under 9 One-Mile Boys: 1. Shamouri Robinson, 7:49.36. 2. George McIntyre, 7:49.72. 3. John Cullimore, 8:08.96. 4. Elvorn Dore, 8:31.93. 5. Cory Solomon, 5:43.36. 6. Dylan Gill, 11:02.30. 7. Dominic Munro, 11:10.90. 8. Keyondre Slater, 14:16.36.

Girls: 1. K’Zea Weeks, 7:52.51. 2. Justine Bryson, 8:47.44. 3. Malia Bryson, 9:03.34. 4. Danielle Gill, 9:07.05. 5. Tallulah Kinkead, 9:40.08. 6. Nicole Munro, 10:46.46.

Primary School Cross Country Teams: Cedar School (CS), Century House Montessori (CHMS), Francis Lettsome Primary (FLPS), St. George’s Primary (SGP), Ebenezer Thomas, (ETPS)

1. Trent Herbert (SGP), 17:04.17. 2. Kahlea Choucoutou (FLPS), 17:59.85. 3. Timron Nickie (FLPS), 19:34.29. 4. Marika Potter (FLPS), 19:47.62. 5. Chelsi Solomon (CHMS), 19:58.12. 6. Jahmal Herbert (ETPS), 20:16.56. 7. Jude Kinkead (CHMS), 20:51.80. 8. Dandre Mitcham (FLPS), 21:03.48.
Points: 1. Francis Lettsome Primary, 17. 2. Century House Montessori, 12 (2 competitors). 3. St. George’s Primary, 1 (1competitor) 4. Ebenezer Thomas Primary, 6 (1 competitor).

Secondary School Cross Country Teams: Cedar School (CS), St. George’s Secondary (SGS), Elmore Stoutt High School House Teams Lettsome (Le), Lincoln (Li), Flemming (F), Carlisle (C).

1. Khiry Creque (C), 12:52.14. 2. Joseph Smith Jr. (F), 13:06.54. 3. Raheem Taylor (C) , 13:24.59. 4. Niayla Smith (F), 14:47.03. 5. Esteban Smith (CS), 14:52.51. 6. Andre Donovan (C), 15:07.58. 7. Liam Thompson (CS), 15:41.53. 8. Yasmin Ruffle-Smith (CS), 16:34.19. 9. Ebenezer Joseph (C), 16:45.95. 10. Mikey Joseph (F), 17:26.37. 11. Adam Kerins (CS), 18:02.20. 12. Dimari Thomas (C), 19:24.87. 13. Stephan Rhoden 20:06.25.

Points: 1. Carlisle (C), 31. 2. Cedar School, 44. 3. Flemming, 16 (3 competitors).

Service Club Teams: Rotary of Road Town (RR), Rotary of Tortola, (RT)

1. Nigel Bailey (RT), 15:21.63. 2. Joseph Smith (RT), 15:28.67. 3. Audley Maduro (RT), 16:13.64. 4. Brian Liverpool (RT), 16:31.05. 5. Ryan Geluk (RR), 16:35.60. 6. Archie Christian (RT), 16:35.85. 7. Gerald Farara (RT), 17:11.28. 8. Glenn Harrigan (RR), 18:05.69. 9. John Shirley (RT), 21:03.48. 10. Susanna Potter (RT), 25:51.23. 11. Jeffrey Potter Canton (RR), 26:24.23.

Points: 1. Rotary of Tortola, 18. 2. Rotary of Road Town, 21 (3 competitors).

Community Partners

Teams: Century House Montessori Parents (CMP)
1. Tamara Gill (CMP), 18:07.32. 2. Barbara O’Neal (CMP), 18.23.38. 3. Elizabeth Burratti (CMP), 19:28.53. 4. Eugenia O’Neal (CMP), 20:17.20. 5. Bill Kinkead, 21:00.55.

Points: 1. Century House Montessori Parents


(Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway is a freelance journalist. This article does not reflect the views of the BVIOC)

© Copyright 2008-9 BVI Olympic Committee

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