 |
 |
 |
|
March 7th, 2010
Jamaica's
Campbell creates history
Kemoy Campbell created history at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships, at the Mount Irvine Bay Golf Course, in Tobago, yesterday. The 19-year-old Jamaican dominated the Junior (under-20) Men’s six-kilometre event to become the first Caribbean athlete to win a race at the Championships. Prior to Campbell’s victory, United States, Canada and Mexico were the only countries to have produced individual NACAC champions. The determined teenager bucked the trend, completing the course in 18 minutes flat. Canadian Ahmed Mohammed was a distant second, battling to the line in 18:21, while third spot was copped by American Erik Olson (18:37). ’I came with the intention of winning,’ Campbell told the Sunday Express after the race, ’and it paid off for me.’ Running in sweltering heat, Campbell always looked a winner. By the end of the second lap, he had opened up a huge gap on his rivals, and was challenged only by the clock on his third and last trek round the undulating course. ’I enjoyed running in the race. The conditions were Jamaican-ike.’ At the 2010 Carifta Games, in the Cayman Islands next month, Campbell will bid for gold in the 5,000-metre and 1,500m events. ’I plan to break records,’ he declared. ’I think I will achieve my goal, as long as I keep my head to it.’ United States dominated yesterday’s senior races. Max King gave a command performance in the Men’s 8K, leading an American sweep of the top four places. King completed the four-lap race in 23 minutes 49 seconds, beating teammates Michael Spence (24:06), Robert Mack (24:26) and Thomas Kloos (24:34) into second, third and fourth, respectively. After three laps, there were some 60 metres of daylight between King and Spence. King opened up the gap on the final lap to complete a dominant show at Mount Irvine Bay Golf Course. The Oregon native said afterwards that though he is accustomed to far cooler conditions, he was prepared for the Caribbean heat. ’I was dressing in layers and doing my runs. ’It’s a beautiful course,’ he continued. ’You can’t have a better backdrop than the Caribbean Sea. The undulations of the course and the twists and turns suited me really well.’ Guyana’s Cleveland Ford was very impressive, finishing fifth in 24:39, while Richard Jones was the best of the Trinidad and Tobago runners on show, copping 11th spot in 26:13. ’I’m pleased with the performance,’ Jones said. ’It was decent, considering the conditions.’ The Americans emerged as Senior Men’s team champions. Mexico finished second, Guyana third, T&T fourth and Aruba fifth. United States also captured the Senior Women’s team title, beating Mexico and T&T into second and third, respectively. Delilah Di Crescenzo led the charge for the American women, winning the 6K in 20:50. Another Team USA athlete, Emily Harrison copped the runner-up spot in 21:02. Mexico’s Anayeli Navarro bagged bronze in 21:21. Samantha Shukla was the first T&T athlete to complete the three-lap race. She finished 11th in 24:04. Genevieve Lalonde retained her Junior Women’s 4K title. The Canadian returned a time of 13 minutes, 50 seconds to finish ahead of American Madeline Morgan (13:53). Canada won the Junior Women’s team title. United States finished second, and Jamaica third. The Canadians also triumphed in the Junior Men’s team competition. The Americans seized silver, and Team Jamaica got bronze. The Jamaicans, though, had the satisfaction of capturing a NACAC Cross Country Championship individual title for the very first time. |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
