Daniel makes regional strides

Top local female distance athlete Lisa Daniel made her best showing in regional road racing when she placed fourth in the Barbados Half Marathon last Sunday, as part of the Run Barbados Series.{{more}}

The 37-year-old Daniel clocked 1 hour 37 minutes 36 seconds, to be first in her age group 30 to 39, and was the second Caribbean athlete to cross the finish line.

“It is my best placing putting out the OECS Half Marathon and I feel good that I was able to represent my country well,” Daniel told SEARCHLIGHT last Monday.

She was thankful that the National Lotteries Authority came to her assistance in facilitating travel to Barbados.

The Half Marathon was won by American Erin O’Mara in 1 hour 26 minutes 45 seconds. The first Caribbean athlete was Alika Morgan of Guyana in 1 hour 33 minutes 06 seconds. Morgan was second among the women, with Britain’s Sarah Williams clocking 1 hour 34 minutes 7 seconds, placed third.

In the business of road running for the past 17 years, Daniel is also a national footballer, admitting while loving both sports, her first love is Athletics.

Currently not attached to any local club, Daniel prefers just to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines at regional and international meets, and herself on the local circuit, as according to her “There is nothing forthcoming from being part of a club here, as no one looks out for you.”

But while Daniel improved, the 2008 champion of the Powerade Marathon, Pamenos Ballantyne finished fifth in the 26.2 mile event, which also took place last Sunday, and part of the Run Barbados Series. The Vincentian Ballantyne clocked 2 hours 39 minutes 59 seconds.

The race was won by St. Lucian Victor Ledger in 2 hours 32 minutes 29 seconds. Second was debutant in the series, Kenyan Simon Sawe in 2 hours 33 minutes 59 seconds. Third was St. Lucian Zepherinus Joseph who clocked 2 hours 34 minutes 56 seconds, and fourth Curtis Cox of Trinidad and Tobago in 2 hours 38 minutes 18 seconds. (RT)