The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MACKEY Williams has seen the resurgence of his vintage distance running career as he picked up consecutive victories in Grand Bahama and in New Providence.

During the early morning riser on Saturday, Williams pulled off the triumph in the men’s 10 kilometre run in the St Augustine’s College Alumni Association’s 10th Annual Uncle Lou Run/Walk Race.

The event got started in front of Rawson Square and ended up on the campus of St Augustine’s College where the late Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley served as a long-time principal and sporting coach.

Joining Williams on the top of the podium were Suzy Eneas, who pulled off the win in the women’s race; David Strachan, the men’s winner of the walk and Eve Maycock-Dorsett, the women’s race winner.

The quartet received a package of gifts from Aliv, including a new cell phone for their efforts. All other winners in their respective age groups got medals. All competitors were awarded participation medals.

For 37-year-old Williams, who won the event previously, returning for this year’s race was considered more of a workout.

“The race was okay. We had a slight headwind, but just winning the half marathon in Freeport and the University of the Bahamas race last week, this was more like motivation for me,” Williams said.

“This one was more like a workout because my race is like training and my training is more like a race. So I was prepared for it. I think the other races prepared me well to go out there and use this as a workout.”

The win in Grand Bahama in the Dog Days Half Marathon over two of the top distance runners on the island was a big boost for Williams, who admitted that he hasn’t ran a 13.1-mile road race in a while.

“It was more a surprise and a motivation for me as well,” said Williams after he pulled off the win over Keithrell Hanna and Delroy Boothe. “I hope to go to Miami, Florida, next month to test my skills against some international competition.”

Second time was

the charm

After falling short in her first appearance last year, Suzy Eneas made it a point to get redemption this year and she did, improving on her time as she picked up the women’s 10K run title.

“There was a lot of hills with the two bridges and the last hill coming up to the final line here at SAC,” Eneas said. “But I felt really strong. I’ve been off for a few months, but I felt very good today.”

After getting acclimated with the course from a year ago, Eneas said the time she took off to recuperate from running so many races helped her as well.

“It was good to come back and win this year,” she said. “Now that I won it, I hope to be back next year to successfully defend it.”

Inspired by fun/run

walk races

Every weekend, 53-year-old Eva Maycock-Dorsett said she tries to find a fun run/walk to participate in and she makes it a point to include the Uncle Lou road race on her calendar.

“My aim is to win and to have fun at the same time,” she stated. “The race was good, the course was good and the weather was good. It was just a good race this morning. I will be back next year.”

Miller expected more

competitors

Although he was a little surprised during the award presentation that someone had beaten him in the 60-and-over category of the walk, Member of Parliament Leslie Miller said he was disappointed in the turnover overall. “It’s always a pleasure to be here to participate in this race, which is being held in memory of a man who has made such a great contribution to this country, Uncle Lou,” said Miller, who is preparing for re-election with the Progressive Liberal Party for Tall Pines.

“I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t have that many competitors. Bahamians are getting too lazy. Even the old scholars and those who are still here at school should make it a point to come out and participate and remember Uncle Lou for what he did for the country and in our lives.”

Even though he never attended St Augustine’s College because he was schooled in Miami, Florida, Miller said three of his children graduated from SAC and felt the impact of Uncle Lou during their tenure. “I appreciate his life. That’s why I’m here every year,” Miller said. “I try to remember the contribution that he made in our lives.”

End of the Journey

This year’s road race comes as organiser Stephen Robinson ends his three-year term as president of SAC’s Alumni Association. But it doesn’t come without his regrets. “In terms of those people who came out, I think they put on a good performance,” he indicated. “But the numbers really dropped. During my first year in administration in 2015, we had some 300-plus supporters, last year we fell off to 150-plus and this year we barely reached 100 registered competitors.

“Nonetheless, I’m pleased and even though the numbers fell off, I hope that the next administration continues this legacy of honouring a man with a long legacy in the person of Deacon Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley.”

The date for the decade-old race coincided with Adderley’s birthday on March 11 (1934 when he was born), even though he passed away 14 years ago in 2003 at the age of 69.

The Bahamas Association of Certified Officials, an organisation that Adderley helped to create to official at local track and field meets, was well represented.

Part proceeds from the race was given to SAC’s track and field team that will be travelling to the Penn Relays Carnival, scheduled for April 27-29 in Philadelphia.