Ballantyne finds Joseph’s number

Pamenos Ballanyne has seemingly found the formula for beating his nemesis St. Lucian Zephrinus Joseph.{{more}}

Ballantyne, regarded as the Caribbean’s premier distance runner, last Sunday left Joseph to trail him to the finish line in the Prime Minister’s 10 K in Antigua and Barbuda.

He finished the race in 32 minutes .03 seconds, to register his second straight victory on Joseph. The two have had a running battle for the past two years, with Joseph getting the upper hand.

But Ballantyne reversed the fortunes last July when he triumphed in the Caricom 10K in Barbados.

Following Ballatyne and Joseph was another St. Lucian, Jason Sayers, who docked in third.

Ballantyne is hoping to make it three in a row, when the two meet in St. Kitts and Nevis October 28, in the OECS Half Marathon. Joseph upstaged Ballantyne at last year’s event in Dominica. Ballantyne, with ten wins in the event, is confident that he will make it number eleven.

Ballantyne warms up for the St. Kitts event with an outing in Martinique on October 20 as that country stages its 15K.

Ballantyne, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday evening, said he was in good health and free from injury.

“Once I am in this form Zephrinus cannot beat me”, he said confidently.

Ballantyne is praising Chiropractor Dr. Edmund Sealy for his present state of fitness.

The ace distance runner may not have a chance to stop Joseph, at least this year, in the North Leeward 10K held here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Joseph is the title holder on what has become the trademark road race event on the local calendar. The St. Lucian won the inaugural race in 2005 and repeated that feat one year later, leaving Ballantyne to look at him cross the finish line.

Indications are that the much welcomed 10 K will take place Sunday, October 28.