Athletics

Wet But Triumphant

Lance Corporal Edwards, P of the First Battalion flexing his
legs after winning the Force Cross Country Championship.

It was a rare wet morning for the capital, Kingston, but from the previous day Jamaica had been experiencing intermittent showers and thunder storms caused by a tropical wave. However, 85 runners competing in the Jamaica Defence Force 2003Inter-Unit Cross Country Championship seemed not to notice weather. At precisely 7:00 a.m. that morning (August 27, 2003), seemingly oblivious to the drops of showers, the runners set off to complete the arduous 10 km (six-mile) speed run to bring honour to their units and themselves. There were 70 males and 15 female soldiers.  It was an open race for the women,  however each major unit of the Force with the exception of the Intelligence Unit was required to field 10 runners.  The race began and ended at the JDF Mini Stadium at Up Park Camp. Within an hour, the event was over and the new Cross Country winners declared. From the results it is clear that the defending champions the 1^st Battalion the Jamaica Regiment (1 JR) put up a valiant fight but still lost the championship to a similarly wet, but triumphant 2^nd Battalion the Jamaica Regiment (2 JR).

Private Hinds, R of the Second Battalion after placing second
in the Force Cross Country Championship.

Private Ellis, J (left) and Private Thompson P of Support and Services Battalion, both first place winners in the female category of the Force Cross Country Championship.

Unit Placing

Individual Placing (male)

Individual Placing (female)