PanCaribbean Sigma Corporate Run raises $33 million

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

HORACE Burey and Karlene Blagrove dominated the PanCaribbean Sigma Corporate Run in the male and female categories respectively.

The 2012 Run, which took place on Sunday on the streets of New Kingston, had over 16,000 registered participants and over $33 million being raised to date for Chain of Hope Jamaica to improve the cardiac unit at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Burey completed the 5K race in 14 minutes and 49 seconds to gain victory over Andrew Gutzmore, who had a finishing time of 14 minutes and 58 seconds and Kerey Benjamin in third place with 15 minutes and 12 seconds.

Burey, who registered through Island Smiles, has participated for over six years and claimed the number one spot two years consecutively

"It feel good to be the winner, but it was a lot of work as I had to train very hard; I had to get a good check-up at the doctor, eat right and do a lot of long-distance running," he said.

Blagrove, who won the female competition, copped the number one spot in 19 minutes and four seconds ahead of Juliette Dinnal, who crossed the finish line in 22 minutes and 14 seconds. Carey-Ann Williams placed third in 22 minutes and 44 seconds.

Blagrove, who has participated in several stagings of the annual PanCaribbean Sigma Corporate Run, was delighted with her win. "I am always running in road races so I had to participate in this race. I had no challenges as from the moment I got to the start line and saw other elite runners missing, I said to myself 'I have this race'," she said.

Ricardo Neins of Petrojam Limited took the top spot in the Executive Management Run Category. Bruce James topped the Open Male walk in 30 minutes and eight seconds, while Paulette Thompson emerged champion for the Open Female walk in 37 minutes and 20 seconds.

Colleen Morrison in 33 minutes and 22 seconds beat Vinnette Green and Maureen Saunders in the Female Wheelchair competition. Sheldon Cox copped the top spot in the Male Wheelchair race in 30 minutes and 15 seconds.

The 14th annual Run, which got underway at 7:30 am on Knutsford Boulevard and culminated at Emancipation Park on Oxford Road in New Kingston, was held in celebration of Jamaica's Golden Jubilee and received strong support from Her Excellency The Most Honourable Lady Allen, R Danny Williams and sprint star Usain Bolt.