Ashton, Mc Dowall revel in NACAC Chatoyer 10K

Sandy Bay resident Junior “Stone” Ashton made an ancestral statement, when he was the first to cross the finish line at the Chateaubelair Playing Field in last Sunday’s North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Chatoyer Endurance 10K.{{more}}

The race, named in honour of paramount Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer, who was known for his fierce battles with foreign intruders, Ashton, himself a Carib descendant, had to overcome the hilly terrain of North Leeward and three overseas athletes, en route to the tape.

Ashton stopped the clock at 41 minutes 17.20 seconds as he covered the course, which saw the competitors racing off from Gordon Yard.

Like Ashton, fellow Vincentian Linda Mc Dowall secured the female bracket, as she had little headache in doing so. Mc Dowall’s winning time was 47 minutes 53.60 seconds.

In taking the international segment, Ashton and Mc Dowall went away with US$1,000 each.

Settling for second place among the males was St Lucia’s Michel Biscette, who returned a time of 43 minutes 07.00 seconds and fellow St Lucian Winsbert Sylvester was third in 43 minutes 48.50 seconds.

But there was no place on the podium for Vincentian Pamenos Ballantyne, whose time of 47 minutes 52.90 seconds, placed him ninth overall.

Finishing ahead of Ballantyne was Dominican Bram Sanderson, in 46 minutes 01.30 seconds. Sanderson was fourth in the international category and the seventh finisher overall.

Ballantyne, in the same race in 2015, was second behind Kenyan Kenneth Rotich.

Meanwhile, Kerina Hooper, who last year won the female Under-20 of the local category, strategically opted this time around for the international lot, and finished second in 59 minutes 41.60 seconds.

And, completing the top three international women’s category was Dominican Nelicia Nelson in a pedestrian 1 hour 20 minutes 53.10 seconds.

The second places, in both genders of the 10K, collected US$ 700, while the third places obtained US$ 500.

The event is being marketed by Team Athletics SVG as the “World’s Most Challenging 10K”.(RT)