Dehaney, Williams top Manchester Capital 5K run

By Sports Desk December 14, 2023
 Tabbrel Williams accepts her winning prize from Manchester princial Jasford Gabriel Tabbrel Williams accepts her winning prize from Manchester princial Jasford Gabriel contributed

Winston Dehaney and Tabbrel Williams topped the male and female sections of the second Manchester Capital Run in the parish capital of Mandeville, on Sunday.

Alphansus Davis High School was another big winner, as they secured five of the top six spots in the male and female sections to grab the team prize and the $70,000 prize money.

The 5K Run/Walk challenged most of the competitors, courtesy of the undulating nature of the course which boasted several hills to climb.

Dehaney started close to the front and took over the lead about halfway and never looked back. He crossed in 18 minutes and 39 seconds, ahead of Tyre Hopkins, who stopped the clock in at 19 minutes and five seconds, and Andrew Powell, who clocked 19 minutes and 27 seconds.

Hopkins and Powell hail from Alphansus Davis High.

"The first part was pretty hilly so even when I try to take it easy, it still took some energy out of me. (The route) it was tough. It did take some effort out of me, but it was a good run. I was hoping to be near to the front, but the first half is not what determines the winner, it is how you finish in the second half," Dehaney said.

On the female side, Williams, who won in a time of 22 minutes and 13 seconds, led a Alphansus Davis sweep, as her teammates Carlene Temple (22 minutes and 53 seconds), and Alikay Reynolds (23 miniutes and 57 seconds), were second and third.

Williams was delighted by her win.

"I love that this route was kind of very much long, and I am hoping that it will help to improve my time because that's what I came for, especially since I am running the 800 and 1500 metres. This is a really good training for my body and how to maintain my breathing and so forth," she shared.

The top three male walkers were Duwell Allen (27 minutes and 19 seconds), Kevoy Graham (29 minutes and 55 seconds), and Jowaine Williams (32 minutes), while the top three female walkers were Shinelle Jhagroo-Bryan (38 minutes and 20 seconds), Trudyann Peart (40 minutes and 36 seconds), and Dhavia Humpstead (40 minutes and 43 seconds).

Jasford Gabriel, principal of Manchester High School, who also walked the route, beamed about the success of the event.

"At Manchester High School, we deem ourselves as leaders in the education landscape and whatever we do we give it our all. So, this is significant in the context of what we want to do as a school in terms of building partnerships, creating opportunities for our students, and this will go a far way. The mayor was here, the custos was here, medical fraternity, civic community and many others, and so it's a great platform on which to build as we go forward," Gabriel said.

Gabriel gave credit to the many sponsors, who helped to ensure that the event was successful to assist the school's sports programmes.

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