A downpour at the start of the Blue Run 5K Run and Walk on Sunday morning did not dampen the spirit or movement of most of the thousands of registered participants who turned up for the race which began at Emancipation Park. The walk/run was powered by Guardian Life, celebrating its 25th anniversary.

In fact, there were 80 per cent more runners and walkers for the second staging of the event, with the majority representing corporate Jamaica.

“With the rain, we had to cancel the blue powdering of the participants which was the initial plan in keeping with our aim to colour Kingston blue in honour of Prostate Awareness month in September,” said Alfred “Frano” Francis, race director and executive director of Running Events Jamaica, conceptualiser of the event, which is aimed at bringing awareness to prostate cancer and the need for early testing. However, he described the race as successful.

Among the men’s winners were Evans Tetteh of Jamaica College with a time of 17:08.00 minutes; Dominic Amponsah of Jamaica College (17:09.00) and Royale Gordon who crossed the finish line at 17:46.00.

Cindy Rose of Chase Fund, with a time of 21:01.00, won the women’s section while second place went to her teammate Terrica Clarke in 21:03.00. In third place was Florence Nafamba at 21.05, also representing Chase Fund.