Somersfield Academy Students Shine at Butterfield and Vallis 5K Event
February 07, 2011 — Runner Stephen Allen successfully defended his Butterfield and Vallis 5K title against some high-calibre rivals yesterday, as the popular event attracted an impressive field of around 400 competitors. A tightly contested women’s race was won by Jennifer Allen, who pushed in the final half-mile to out-distance last year’s winner, Victoria Fiddick.
In relatively warm conditions, competitors were tested by a rain shower which arrived shortly before the start of the main 5K run and walk and persisted throughout the event. However, champion Allen shook off the raindrops and made his intentions clear from the start as he surged to the front to lead. He was briefly challenged by leading senior Gary Rayner and May 24 Half-Marathon Derby legend Kavin Smith around the one-mile mark, having climbed the testing uphill past Berkeley Institute. But Allen pushed forward again along North Shore to shake off his pursuers.
“I knew there was real competition out there today,” said Allen. “My only chance was to go ahead and I pushed on along North Shore. I was well prepared and I’m happy with this win. My time is better than last year.” Allen crossed the finish line in 16 minutes and four seconds, much faster than his 2010 winning time of 17:32. Next to finish was three-time May 24 Half-Marathon champion Chris Estwanik, once again pushing his daughter Somers around the course in a stroller. Estwanik’s time was 16:14. Rayner was third in 16:51, just edging out Smith, who was three seconds adrift.
In the women’s race, Fiddick and Allen ran together for most of the way, with triathlon specialist Karen Smith and Deon Breary tracking them closely in the opening mile before gradually losing ground as the front two stepped up the pace. Allen, who won the event for the first time, said, “We had a good pace, but the first mile was 6:24, which was slow, so Victoria and I picked it up after that. I left her in the last 800m. I was really just focused on my own race.” The track-racing specialist won in 19:19, finishing 23rd overall. She is now to decide whether to gear her training towards competing in this year’s May 24 Half-Marathon Derby or focus instead on running the 1500m in the Island Games. Fiddick was second in 19:37, with Breary passing Smith in the final 400m to claim third in 20:16.
In the 1.6-mile race for junior athletes aged under 12, fastest was Tyler Smith (Somersfield) ahead of Elisha Darrell (TN Tatem) and Aaron Jacobs (Purvis). Fastest amongst the girls was Quaashie Douglas (Whitney Institute) ahead of Messiah Greaves (Harrington Sound) and Kayah Wilks (Somersfield), who were also first and second respectively in the girls’ 7 to 10 age division. Fastest boy in the 7 to 10 division was Warwick Academy’s Sajon Harvey.
5K age division winners:
Women: (13-15) Gabby Arnold 21:38; (16-18) Rayni Maybury 21:48; (19-29) Jennifer Allen 19:19; (30-39) Ashley Estwanik 20:22; (40-49) Victoria Fiddick 19:37; (50-59) Sharon Craig 24:30; (60+) Peggy Couper 26:32.
Men: (Under 12) Mitchell Gariepy 21:58; (13-15) Daniel Oatley 18:21; (16-18) Shawn Herman 18:19; (19-29) Jonathan Herring 18:47; (30-39) Stephen Allen 16:04; (40-49) Gary Rayner 16:51; (50-59) Manuel Lopes 19:25; (60+) Eddie Fisher 20:46.