Rodgers, Green dominate Mico Pump It Up 5K
HYDEL HIGH’S Monifa Green and Kingston College’s Arymanya Rogers, of Uganda, were crowned female and male champions at yesterday’s second staging of the Mico Pump It Up 5K Road Race which started at ended on the school’s campus at Marescaux Road in Kingston. Rogers, who was a third-place finisher a year ago, dominated his rivals to post an impressive 15:48.20 while the Corey Bennett-coached Green, competing in her first road race of the season, and who was a winner a year ago, had a convincing win in the female section in 19:23.60 seconds.
Rogers, who has been doing quite well on the road this season, capturing the 5,000m Open at this year’s ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships, was in tremendous form as at the start of the race at The Mico University College entrance, he quickly went in front, and for the remainder of the event, he dominated his rivals, showing that he is ready for another good season.
G.C. Foster College’s Henry Thomas finished second in 16:15.10, while it was a thirdplace finish for The Mico University College’s Brian Golding in 17:01.80.
Rogers was very pleased with his performance. “Last year, the Mico 5K was my first road race in Jamaica and I didn’t do that well. But now I am used to these events on the road and because of this, I was able for this big improvement. My time was quite fast, as my preparation has been going very good so far and I am looking forward toward the remainder of the season,” said Rogers, who stated that he will be competing this Sunday at the G.C. Foster College 5K event.
Like she did a year ago, it was all Green, as the outstanding Hydel middledistance runner showed that she will be hard to beat this season, whether on the road or on the track in distance events. She easily took charge of her peers, relegating G.C. Foster College’s Shanice Gardner, the winner of last Sunday’s UWI CB 5K race, into second place in 20:14.20, while Green’s teammate, Emily Coley, finished third in 20:31.00.
“It was an easy race for me today and although I ran faster last year, it was good for me seeing this
was my first competition for the season, but things have been going well in training and I am excited about the upcoming season,” said Green.
Meet director Ian Forbes was extremely happy about the second staging of the event which is being used to help male students in the PreUniversity Men’s Programme (PUMP) at the institution. “The event has gone well and it was a major improvement over last year’s staging, as we had more entries this time around. Next year, we are even hoping for better. The race was well organised and everything was clockwork, and the competition was great,” said Forbes.
Also competing at yesterday’s staging was Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton, who endorsed the race, along with President of The Mico University College Dr Asburn Pinnock.