JEDDAH: Local lad Suleiman won the second annual 8 km road race sponsored by Vertigo Café & Grille in which 59 runners of all ages took part. This race was held late afternoon in slightly humid conditions. Thirty-eight competed in the longer two-lap version (8km) while the others competed in the one-lap race.
Local runners again dominated the top positions, with Suleiman comfortably winning by over half-a-minute from newcomer Awaji, and with veteran Bernardie as usual splitting the youngsters group, this time coming third ahead of his younger rivals, Gawani and Bakhraiba.
Occasional visitor Mohammad won the veterans category from Hawsawi. A very close tussle between four veterans saw Frenchman Long come third with Carmichael, McCormack and Bagahaffar not far behind.
In the women’s category, Coleman edged out Yamani by a second to finish first. A promising newcomer, Bayan Alsaadi ran exceptionally well to finish second. Queck reversed the order of last week’s run with her colleague Davis, and this time finished well ahead of her rival.
In the men’s section, some of the tail-enders provided close finishes with Valles edging out his fellow compatriot by a second and the younger Hubess just beating his very much older club member Zebedee in another close finish.
There was a round of applause for junior Ammar Baghaffar who completed the two laps as sole junior member. In the one lap version of the race, Alshamrani triumphed in a fast time of 17.40..
Overall Winner: Suleiman (28.44)
Open Category: 1st Awaji (29.18); 2nd Gawani (29.57); 3rd Bakhraiba (31.13)
Veteran Category: 1st Mohammad (34.33); 2nd Hawsaw (35.45); 3rd Long (37.39)
Masters Category: 1st Sanquer (35.15); 2nd Alkhaibari (42.27); 3rd Wyatt (47.08)
Seniors: 1st Healam (53.00); Zebedee (53.17)
Ladies: 1st Coleman (35.59); 2nd Alsaadi (40.13); 3rd Hobson (41.30)
Juniors: 1st A. Baghaffar (56.04)
