Kingston, Jamaica…October 2005 – Five (5) elite athletes including 3-time Reggae Marathon champion and course record holder Pamenos Ballantyne are slated to compete in the fifth anniversary staging of the Reggae Marathon and Half-Marathon event to be held in Negril on December 03, 2005.

Albert Omboga, Denise Knickman, Joseph Nderitu, Michael Wardian and Ballantyne will all be participating in what promises to be an exciting and highly competitive race. Internationally referred to as the “Pride of the Caribbean” defending champion Ballantyne of St. Vincent and the Grenadines also won the event in 2001 and 2002 setting a course record of 2:21:05. He is a seven-time winner of the Trinidad and Tobago Clico Marathon where he also has the course record of 2:15:30.

Omboga who hails from Kenya has competed in marathons in Africa and Malaysia, his best time so far being 2:13:35. Knickman of Maryland, USA was the Reggae Marathon female champion in 2003 but because of injury was unable to compete in last year’s event and has been invited to participate this year. Her personal best is 2:56.

Nderitu of Kenya is a three time winner of the Ottawa Marathon, his last win coming in 2:15:29; while Wardian, who hails from Virginia, USA participated in the United States Olympic Trials in February 2004, placing 33rd in a time of 2:22:40. He has run marathons in Morocco, India and all across the USA and set the "World Record on a Treadmill" on December 11, 2004 in 2:23:54. His personal best is 2:21:48.

According to Race Director, Alfred “Frano” Francis, “this year is special for us and preparations are in high gear as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Reggae Marathon”. Added Mr. Francis, “the willingness of these elite athletes to participate in our event when they could have chosen others, is a testament to the fact that we are now well-established on the international race calendar.”

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