Jamaican Allen adds half-marathon to mile success

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — Jamaican Stephen Allen, a 34-year-old Bermuda-based policeman, celebrated a second success at the Bermuda Marathon Weekend by winning Sunday’s half-marathon after edging out Jay Donawa, another local runner.

Allen, who won the local men’s mile race on Friday night, and Donawa, 42, decided to share the glory.

Allen and Donawa ran side by side for almost all of the 13.1 miles in the absence of any elite runners, with Donawa helping push Allen to a personal best (PB) time of one hour, 12 minutes and 33 seconds.

The pair linked hands as they approached the final straight on Front Street, only splitting moments before reaching the tape, with Allen declared the winner, although the pair recorded the same times.

“It doesn’t really matter about the winning,” Allen said afterwards. “We both did well and ran together from start to finish, working as a team.

“I was great to get a PB and I always look forward to this event. I won the local Front Street mile, had a PB and two victories — it’s been a really good weekend for me.”

Added Donawa: “We pretty much worked together as there weren’t any elite half-marathon runners to push us.

“We had to help each other and I was actually able to pull Stephen to a personal best time. I think somewhere along the way I went through a bad patch, and having him there gave me a lift. If I’d been by myself I would have backed off.”

Bryan Huberty of Miami followed up his Fairmont to Fairmont Road Race win in Bermuda last weekend with a third-place finish in the half-marathon, crossing the line in 1:14.47.

Heather Kampf, 28, of Minnesota, completed a trio of race weekend victories after finishing as the first woman in the half-marathon in 1:18.05, having won the elite women’s mile on Friday night and the 10-kilometre women’s race the following day.

Late entry Benjamin Meto, of Kenya, won Sunday’s full marathon race at the first attempt to cap an impressive Bermuda Marathon Weekend debut — 40 years after the first international marathon was staged here.

Meto romped to victory in two hours, 28 minutes and 20 seconds to add to his triumph in Saturday’s 10K and deny his compatriot and training partner Richard Kessio a third straight victory. Kessio came second in the 26.2-mile race in 2:30.01.

The two Mexico-based runners ran side by side for nearly 14 miles before Meto made the decisive break.

Canadian Wesley Banks was third in 2:57.28.

Olympic cyclist Lyne Bessette, of Canada, claimed the women’s marathon title in 3:10.17 after finishing seventh overall.

Finishing second behind Bessette was compatriot and 2011 winner Stephanie Hodge, who was ninth overall in 3:16.45.

Rounding off the top three in the women’s division was Laura Wright, who was also the first local female to finish, in a personal best time of 3:31.44.

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Jamaican Allen adds half-marathon to mile success

Michael Allen, Jeadin White cop ICWI U-13, U-15 MVP titles

CAVALIER Soccer Club and Duhaney Park Football Club were the toast of the 2014 ICWI-sponsored KSAFA Under-13 and Under-15 football presentation at the ICWI office in New Kingston recently.

Cavalier Soccer Club defeated Santos in the Under-13 final and they received $25,000 and 20 medals, while Santos walked away with $20,000 and also 20 runners-up medals. Third-placed Real Mona received $15,000 and Allman Woodford received $10,000 for placing fourth.

Michael Allen of Cavalier SC was MVP for the Under-13 competition and he received a $25,000 grant from Paul Lalor, president and CEO of ICWI Limited.

In the Under-15 presentations, Duhaney Park, who defeated Santos in the final 1-0, received $25,000 and 20 medals. Santos walked away with another $20,000 for placing second, while Real Mona were third, receiving another $15,000.

Goalkeeper Jeadin White of Duhaney Park was the MVP for the Under-15 competition and he also received a $25,000 grant from Lalor.

Guest speaker Lalor was very pleased with the running of the competition as well as the conduct of the teams. He was also delighted with the talent he saw on display in both competitions and is looking forward to the 2015 season.

He noted that his company was very happy to be a part of the nurturing of children at this young age and that it fitted in well with their philosophy of corporate responsibility.

KSAFA President Stewart Stephenson was also pleased with the running of the competition and the overall discipline of the teams.

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Michael Allen, Jeadin White cop ICWI U-13, U-15 MVP titles

Independence Message by Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The following is the August 6, 2013 Independence Day Message from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen in full:

My Fellow Jamaicans, at home and in the Diaspora,We bring the curtains down on our 50th Anniversary celebrations and begin our 51st year at a time when our country is beckoning to us for our recommitment to rise and build!This is a call to all of us; none is exempt! Our National Anthem constantly inspires us to believe that we are a country blessed by the Eternal Father.We must believe that we are uniquely equipped to pursue our bold mission outlined in Vision 2030 of making Jamaica a place where we choose to live, work, raise families and do business.We are all aware that there is some distance between where we are and where we want to be, but we must not be discouraged. Rather, let us embrace the many challenges which confront Jamaica, as a call to action and encourage each other to serve to the best of our ability, with dignity, honour and integrity!Today, we remember with pride what Jamaicans have accomplished through their dogged determination to succeed, their creative genius, their perseverance and resilience, and especially in sports, their drive to make Jamaica proud.We also remember and laud the many Jamaicans overseas who have built up a reputation for sterling contributions to the development of their country of residence.Here at home, we recognize and commend the many persons from very humble beginnings who have triumphed in their respective fields because of their commitment to hard work, their discipline, their focus on the attainment of their goals and their belief in their God-given potential to achieve their dreams.They confirm my belief that the large majority of Jamaicans are decent, hard-working, law-abiding citizens and that we have the capacity to transform Jamaica into the country which we envision. “There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.”In my travels across Jamaica:I have met many of our unsung heroes and heroines from all walks of life, who, motivated by the tough economic conditions, sharpen their skills and use their inventiveness to create small businesses which provide jobs for others.I have been privileged to meet children and youth whose hunger for education and whose focus on their goals inspire me to persist with my “I Believe” Initiative.I have seen people, both young and the more mature, invest of themselves in building up others through the impartation of life skills and the development of their capacity to earn a decent living.I have interacted with several of our business persons who are contributing their time, talent and resources to the upliftment of our people.I have met others in the media who commit to using their space for the advancement of positive values and attitudes, thus resisting cheap sensationalism.I salute those in the entertainment industry who recognize and accept the weight of responsibility to be good role models on and off stageI know strong people in government and politics, the Church, the security forces, civil society and academia, who will not bend their principles, but will render faithful service to God and country, thus demonstrating the independence of their spirit.These, the warm, caring and hospitable people of Jamaica, are what is right about our country. Together, let us make a significant difference, even reaching our development goals in advance of 2030. Each Jamaican, whether at home or abroad, has the responsibility to help restore our image as a peaceful and productive country. Each of us must accept our responsibility to defend what is good and what is right about us. Edmund Burke, a classical political thinker of the late 18th Century said something which is so relevant to us and our times, and I quote:“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing.”As we celebrate our Independence, let us believe in and build the Jamaica which we are destined to be:  “triumphant, proud and free”!Lady Allen joins me in wishing you a happy Independence. May God bless Jamaica, Land we love!-JIS

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Independence Message by Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen