'I took him on the hill coming down and the last bit I had to go so fast to keep him at bay. But, it was a tough race today actually. I was neck and neck with five people for quite sometime so it's good that it's getting competitive.' The words of winner of the Carrot Bay Classic, James Carr (left). Photo: Dean Greenaway

'I worked really hard for 150 metres because two of the women were trying to catch me and this was the hardest I’ve ever worked to get to the finish line,' NiMade Oniasih explained after holding off Sarah Hayes to win the Carot Bay Classic 10K on Saturday. Photo: Dean Greenaway

Carr, who was among the early breakaway pack, caught Steven Asson on the last incline on the return to Carrot Bay from the foot of Long Bay Hill, then made a bold downhill sprint past his rival with 650m to go. He held off Asson’s spirited response to take the tape in 19 minutes and 21 seconds. Asson finished second in 19:27 and Raheem “Ras” Taylor third in 20:07. Winner of the Dive BVI 10K on Virgin Gorda, Ravindra Sukhu was 4^th and Zebalon McLean 5^th.

“Steve and I broke away from them at the half way point and he was going a little bit faster than me,” noted Carr, who ended Asson’s 2-race winning streak. “I took him on the hill coming down and the last bit I had to go so fast to keep him at bay. But, it was a tough race today actually. I was neck and neck with five people for quite some time so it’s good that it’s getting competitive...”

Asson said he finds that he can handle the flat but is weak on the hills. “In my mind when he passed me, I still didn’t think he would finish before me because I know I have 100% experience in long distance running,” Asson said. “Anytime you are running with me on the hill and burst it down, you have to be a stronger runner than me to maintain it on the flat, but he ran it hard and I didn’t because I know that I’m not 100% fit. I was taking my time before I pick up but couldn’t close the distance between us.”

Oniaish needed to employ every last ounce of energy in a final sprint burst over the 50m to fend off the challenge from Sarah Hayes to win the women’s segment in 23:07, two seconds ahead of Hayes. Clare-Louise Whiley was third in 23:37.

“I worked really hard for 150m because two of the women were trying to catch me and this was the hardest I’ve ever worked to get to the finish line,” Oniasih explained. “I’m so surprised they we so close so I have to train harder now. I have two wins already and I just need another one for the title.”

The next race in the series will see runners trying to conquer ‘The Beast’ in Paraquita Bay on May 5. The finale is on May 25, 2013.

Up next is the second race of the Dive BVI 10K Series on Virgin Gorda, scheduled for April 27, 2013.

Overall race standings after 3 events

Male: 1/-James Carr, 5points; 2/- Steve Asson, 5pts; 3/- Emrol Amsterdam, 11 pts; 4/- Ravindra Sukhu, 12 pts: 5/- Zebalon McLean, 16pts. 

Female: 1/-NiMade Oniasih, 5pts; 2/-Kay Redddy, 12pts;3/- Philomena Robertson, 13pts; 4/- Rosmund Johnson 14pts. 

Final Results from Carrot Bay Classic

Men: 1. James Carr, 19 minutes and 21 seconds. 2. Steven Asson, 19:28.  3. Raheem Taylor, 20:07.  4. Ravindra Sukhu, 20:25. 5. Zebalon McLean, 20:45.  6. Emrol Amsterdam, 20:51. 7. Adrian Dale, 21:07. 8. Adam Holdt, 21:55.  9. Anthony Thom, 22:59. 10. Patrick Ormond, 23:52.

Women: 1. Nimade Oniasih, 23:07. 2. Sarah Hayes, 23:09. 3. Clare-Louise Whiley, 23:37. 4. Kay Reddy, 24:14. 5. Rosmund Johnson, 24:48.  6. Angeligne Laurie, 24:50. 7. Philomena Robertson, 26:17. 8. Zoe Bickerton, 26:42. 9. Samantha Sukhu, 27:12.  10. Debbie Bell, 27:19.

Power Walking, Women: 1=. Jenny McLeary, 40:21. 1=. Linda Li, 40.21.  3=. Toi King, 43:19.  3=. Sheroma Rawlins, 43:19. 5. Anne-Marie Baltimore, 43:30.  6. Denise Cline, 44:02.  7. Faith Dawson, 50:32.