Runners excel at Inter Schools Road Race

Judging by their performance in Thursday’s Inter Schools Road Race, Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School (SCSS) is still on a roll after winning three titles in School Sports during the first time.
The race which began at about 10:30am just outside Caribbean Cinemas, followed a route along the Allan Bousquet Highway, before turning left past the Dame Pearlette Louisy School then up the Mount Serpent Road to Grand Riviere and finally the finish line at the Corinth Playing Field.
The distance is approximately 6.5 km. The initial route which included the Gros Islet Highway, was cut shore due to a shortage of man power and traffic concerns was roughly 7.8km.
The shortened route was advantageous to some runners, but for others who trained for a longer distance, speed and not endurance became more of a factor.
Twelve year-old Kamillah Monoroque of Babonneau Secondary School who is a member of the Rockets Athletics Club, prepared for a longer distance-it didn’t matter. Despite being disappointed that the race was shortened, she placed first overall by a huge margin in Division Three Girls.
SCSS placed first in one division, placed second three times in three other divisions and third in another. In the special awards Overall Male Winners category, the school placed second and third.
Following in order of finish are the top three in each division in the Inter Schools Road Race. Division Three Female: Kamillah Monoroque, Babonneau Secondary School; Shonnelle Joseph, SCSS; Kimmy Francois, SCSS.
Division Two Female: Vernell Augustin, Vide Bouteille; Kerdidra Edmund, Castries Comprehensive; Curlisha Herman, Piaye Secondary.
Division One Female: Frannie Wilkie, Castries Comprehensive; Edwina St Catherine, Vide Bouteille; Marquena James, George Charles.
Division Three Male: Johnus Gustave, SCSS; Randy Serville, Sir Ira Simmons; Alex Rene’, Vide Bouteille.
Division Two Male: Fanis Edward, George Charles; Donson Williams, SCSS; Torree Richelieu, Sir Ira Simmons.
Division One Male: Marbeq Edgar, Piaye Secondary; Tervin St Jean, SCSS; Luckey Satney, Clendon Mason Memorial.
Overall Female Winners: Kamillah Monroque, Babonneau Secondary; Fannie Wilkie, SCSS; Edwina St Catherine, Vide Bouteille.
Overall Male Winners: Marbeq Edgar; Tevin St Jean, SCSS; Johnus Gustave, SCSS.
During the prize giving ceremony which followed the road race, Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Shawn Edward delivered a short address.
He congratulated all the participants and encouraged students at the various schools to participate in activities organized for them.
“Once you are in the mode of participation then naturally the competitive element will kick in,” said the minister.
“I was told the level of competition was exceptionally high. I think you have made yourselves and school proud. I am hoping that this race today can be seen as a pre cursor to the Inter Secondary Schools Track Meet later this term.”
Just over 135 runners representing 15 Secondary Schools, competed in this year’s Inter Schools Road Race.