Richardson & Sealey To Compete In Powerade 5K
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Talented teenager Kallan Richardson will be among the runners vying for top honours when he competes in the Powerade 5K Run on Sunday [July 2].
The 17-year-old has emerged as one of the island’s most promising distance runners, finishing sixth in the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby last month and winning the 16-19 age group.
Richardson, who graduated from Berkeley Institute and Bermuda College as a dual enrollment student last year, set a personal best at the Aecon Bermuda National Championships at the Flora Duffy Stadium last weekend, finishing third in the 5K in 16min 15sec.
“The 5K was a good chance for me to see where I’m at with the shorter distances,” Richardson told Bernews. “I haven’t raced anything that short for a while. I was happy with my time, especially in these [hot and humid] conditions.”
Richardson will be up against a familiar face in Kahzi Sealey on Sunday, his Bermuda team-mate at the 50th Carifta Games in the Bahamas in April.
Sealey, 19, was among the standout performers in the Bahamas, winning two silver medals in the 1,500 and 5,000 metres. He came second in the 5K at the National Championships last weekend.
“In the National Championships, I was going for my PB, so I was racing more for time,” said Richardson, who attends St John’s University in Queens, New York, on an ABIR/Arch scholarship. “This weekend, I’ll look to sit in and see if I can beat Kahzi. He’s definitely a better runner than me, but I’ll try my best.”
Also listed among the participants for Sunday are husband and wife pair Debbie and Jim Butterfield, who have both enjoyed decorated sporting careers.
Jim, 72, represented Bermuda in rowing at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 and came seventh at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. He will take part in the non-competitive walk/run.
Debbie Butterfield, 71, is a seven-times Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby winner and will compete in the 5K run.
In last year’s Powerade 5K race, Jake Brislane won the men’s race in 16:37, with James Kennedy coming second in 17:33 and Domico Watson third in 17:41.
Lucy Ching was the top female in 22:31, with Laura Knox-Clingerman second in 23:24 and Gemma McGeever coming third in 24:36.
The Powerade 5K Walk and Run, formerly the Nature Valley 5K, starts and finishes at Butterfield and Vallis in Orange Valley, Devonshire.
The event will have running and walking, with the walkers starting at 7.45 am and the runners at 8 am.
Goodie bags will be handed to the first 200 participants to sign-up, with the draw prizes including Powerade speakers, Powerade rolling ice chests and Powerade 90-gallon coolers.
There will be prizes for the top three runners in the various categories: under-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus, and the top three male and female walkers.
All proceeds from the race will go towards the Mid Atlantic Club.
Online entries close at 6 pm on Saturday, June 1. Late registration and number pick-up is from 7 am on race day at Butterfield and Vallis.
Registration is online at www.racedayworld.com.
