Pamenos hits the road again

Caribbean long distance champion Pamenos Ballantyne seems to be getting back into form after taking a break from the roads earlier this year.

The marathon runner displayed some superb running skills sending a firm message that he is back, after winning back-to-back races in Barbados and Trinidad earlier this week.{{more}}

Ballantyne shrugged off a tough field of regional athletes when he ran away with the Heart of Barbados 10K in a record time of 33 mins 44 secs on Saturday. Setting the pace at the early part of the race his performance was enough to scalp a minutes’ time from the previous record of 34: 04 held by St. Lucian running sensation Victor Ledger. The event saw some major upsets, after Ballantyne crossed the line, with Jamaica’s Talbert Waynard clocking 34.14 for second place and Venezuelan Carlos Ollivierre for third. A surprising fifth and sixth place finish from Ballantyne’s long time challengers, Trinidadian Curtis Cox and Victor Ledger left some officials amazed.

As if the Barbados triumph was not enough for Ballantyne, a trip to Trinidad – courtesy of Karib Cable – for the OWTU Labour Day 20K run gave the runner his second win in three days.

Ballantyne, who only arrived a few minutes before the starting gun was fired, quickly took the lead over the 100-strong field and crossed the line in a time of 1:08:51 ahead of Richard Jones’ 1: 09: 53 secs and third place finisher Brian Maynard who crossed the line in 1:12:33 secs.

When Ballantyne visited the Searchlight on Wednesday, he expressed his intention of taking part in this year’s CAC Games slated for July in Columbia, but, according to the runner, he is still awaiting the green light from local track officials to participate in the event.

According to Ballantyne, he still continues to be uncertain over his representation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at any SVG Team Athletics sanctioned event.

Only a few months ago, the top Caribbean athlete was omitted from the Commonwealth Games, much to the displeasure of many Vincentians, in particular, this country’s Sports Minister, Glen Beache.

“Despite I am the Caribbean Marathon Champion I was overlooked for selection and that (the Commonwealth Games) was my major event for the year. I am still disappointed over it,” Ballantyne told Searchlight.

But before any selection for this year’s CAC games, Ballantyne would be stretching his legs when he takes part in the CARICOM 10K slated for St. Kitts on July 2.