The Guyanese trio of Cleveland Forde, Cleveland Thomas and Winston Missigher dominated the first leg of the South American 10K Classic Road Race Saturday last in Suriname. The trio will be looking to do the same come Sunday (November 5) when the second leg of the competition is held in Georgetown, Guyana.
Guyana Times Sport caught up with Missigher who revealed that teamwork ensured that he along with his country men took top honours in the Dutch-speaking nation.
“The Surinamese were trying to force their way to the front during the first 3000 metres but then we (Forde, Thomas and Missigher) decided to make our move and worked as a team to finish strongly.”
Cleveland Forde (Center), Cleveland Thomas (front) and Winston Missigher (back) will be looking to make a repeat of taking all the podium spots in the second leg of the South American 10K Classic on Sunday
This same ploy Missigher explained will be used come Sunday as the Guyanese athletes look to reign supreme on home soil.
Despite coming off of an injury just recently, Missigher noted that he is still recovering pointing out that to finish third at the 10K in Suriname is extremely pleasing to him.
In Suriname, Forde had a winning time of 34 minutes 5.08 seconds while; Cleveland Thomas came in just behind with a time of 34 minutes 9 seconds.
The top two finishers’ countryman and longtime rival Missigher came in third in a time of 34 minutes 21.3 seconds.
In the second leg of the competition athletes from at least 15 countries will be competing in Guyana. Forde, Thomas, Missigher and 17-year-olf Rickie Williams will be strong contenders for the podium while Lyanna Charles along with Ashanti Scott are expected to be front runners in the female category.
Some of the countries that are expected to come to Guyana are; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Grenada, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago.
The event will begin at 15:30h beginning at the GTT Earth Street on Carifesta Avenue and will head east along the Rupert Craig Highway before turning back to finish in the National Park at the Children’s Monument.
(Michelangelo Jacobus)
