Brodeur repeats
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — American runner Andrew Brodeur retained the High Mountain Coffee 10K title after holding off stiff competition from Jamaicans Kirk Beckford and Shawn Pitter to win the popular road race yesterday in Williamsfield, Manchester.
Brodeur stopped the clock at 31:39 minutes, while Beckford (31:45) took second ahead of Pitter, who finished in 31:52 minutes.
New sensation Daniele James of the Mavis Bank Track Club emerged the winner of the female category ahead of Bellfield schoolgirl Mayeshie Mead. Brodeur, a 23-year-old from the Shore Athletic Club, was full of praise for his competitors in his post-race interview.
“It was very competitive,” the bearded American said. “All five of these guys were up there with me all the way. I didn’t think it was going to happen, but I pulled through.”
It was indeed a much closer race than last year, with virtually nothing separating the top three runners up to the nine-kilometre mark.
The trio exchanged leads on a number of occasions heading into the home stretch, but Brodeur always looked the most comfortable and duly sprinted away from the field with less than a kilometre left in the race.
“At no point did I think I had it won. It was just so competitive,” added Brodeur, who along with James, will each take home $30,000 for their winning effort.
Meanwhile, Kellits High School was responsible for both the male and female winners in the 5K event.
Seventeen-year-old Wayne Beckford (17:25) improved on his second-place finish last year to beat off the challenge of Demareo Murray of Discover U Track Club. His schoolmate Ivaney Robotham, only 15 years of age, was the female winner.
Lenord Williamson and Coleen Morrison were the respective male and female winners in the wheelchair race.