Dehaney and Williams big winners at Manchester Capital Run

Winston Dehaney and Tabbrel Williams topped the male and female sections, respectively, of the second Manchester Capital 5K Run on Sunday in Mandeville. Alphansus Davis High were also big winners after taking five of the top-six spots in the male and female sections to grab the team prize and $70,000 in prize money.

The Run/Walk started later than the 6:30 a.m. announced time, but there was a lot of excitement and banter prior to the start of the race as the competitors walked from Manchester High School on Perth Road to Ward Avenue for the start of the race.

Dehaney started close to the front and took over the lead at half way and never looked back. He crossed the finish line in 18 minutes 39 seconds well ahead of Tyre Hopkins (19:5) and Andrew Powell (19:27). Hopkins and Powell hail from Alphansus Davis High.

“The first part was pretty hilly so even when I tried to take it easy it still took some energy out of me. 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, is how you finish in the second half,” said Dehaney.

The top-three female runners were all from Alphansis Davis High. They are Tabbrel Williams in a time of 22:13, Carlene Temple 22:53 and Alikay Reynolds 23:77.

“I am hoping that it (5K Run) will help to improve my time because that’s what I came for especially since I am an 800- and 1500-metre competitor. This is a really good training for my body and how to maintain my breathing and so forth,” Williams said.

TOP THREE MALES

The top-three male walkers were Duwell Allen 27:19, Kevoy Graham 29:55, and Jowaine Williams 32:00, while the top-three female walkers were Shinelle Jhagroo-Bryan 38:20, Trudyann Peart 40:36 and Dhavia Humpstead 40:43.

An out-of-breadth Jasford Gabriel, principal of Manchester High School, who walked the route, boasted that he beat many competitors to the finish line even though he was pressured all the way.

“At Manchester High School we deem ourselves as leaders in the education landscape and whatever we do we give it our all so this morning 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. This morning 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.

Looking to 2024 he said, “Next year same time same place with about 10 times the number that you saw here today.”

Gabriel gave credit to the many sponsors who helped to ensure that the event was successful. The sponsors are His Worship the Mayor Councillor Donovan Mitchell, the Member of Parliament Rhoda Moy Crawford, the Ministry of Health, Jamaica Standard Products, Power Services Limited and track and field coach and former head of the school’s sports department, Jerry Holness. The other sponsors were Superior Books & Stationery, Fresh Valu Supermarket, Corner Top Bottling, Neils Auto, Allied Real Estate, Prime Awards & Novelties, Newleigh Texaco, People’s Choice Traders, Mother’s Enterprise, Julex Auto, Office Supplies, Big Ben Cambio, Newell’s Auto, Urvill’s Supermarket, Doorway Express, Moo Penn Supermarket and WeeCare Paediatrics.