by KIRK CORBIN

LEO GARNES was a happy man over the weekend. Not only had he secured yet another Top 10 finish in the Run Barbados SBI Distribution 10K, but he witnessed a few younger runners come to the fore during the country's largest long-distance festival.

The 38-year-old Garnes, who was second in the 1995 event, then the BET 10K, is among a number of veterans who have flown Barbados' flag high at events such as the Run Barbados, amidst the dominance of the overseas runners.

He was sixth overall on Saturday and the top Barbados finisher, but there were promising showings from runners such as Jason Gilkes, Ryan Ross and schoolboys Jason Wilson and Christian Rock.

Garnes, a national record-holder in the 1 500 metres, 3 000 metres, 5 000 metres, 10 000 metres and 3 000 metres steeple chase, was especially pleased with the performances of Wilson and Rock, both of whom he coaches.

"It is good to have youngsters coming in and doing the times that they are doing. The will and drive that they have is very inspiring," he said after the event.

Wilson, of The St Michael School, was the first schoolboy home and 15th overall, finishing in 36:08 minutes. Rock, of The Lodge School and formerly of Coleridge and Parry, was the second schoolboy and finished 17th overall in 36:52 minutes.

The Lodge's Althia Maximillien (49:15) was the first schoolgirl home.

Garnes commented that Barbados was still a good way off the pace of other Caribbean territories, noting that some regional competitors who participated in the Run Barbados were exposed to the same training as the world's top runners.

He is hopeful that he can contribute to the development of world-class runners from Barbados, but pointed out that the corporate sector had a vital role to play.

"I want to make a difference with my coaching, and try to offer these guys what I didn't have, the high-altitude training and stuff. So I am hoping that corporate Barbados, when I do ask, would be able to step forward and help these guys," the Coleridge and Parry alumnus said.

"Even though we are a small island I think we can take our distance running far."

On the Run Barbados, Garnes said the races would be faster if all the events were held on the same day, which was done a few years ago.

This, he added, would allow competitors to choose one race and give it their all.