Kingston College successfully staged the inaugural PUMA FORTIS 5K RUN on Sunday May 26th, 2013. The FORTIS 5K Run was born out of an idea by Ricardo Case an avid 5K enthusiast, a KC Old Boy and Past Head Boy (1988) who sought to provide sustainable financial support to the school and to reconnect all FORTIS across the globe. The purpose of the event was to raise well needed funds for various programmes at Kingston College and to make a special contribution to our selected charity, the Alpha Boys Home. Together with our sponsors and the 872 registered entrants, the inaugural event was able to raise $1,000,000.00 for the school and charity.

The 5k run and walk started at North Street and South Camp Road, heading north to Cross Roads, and then south via Marescaux Road back to North Street and had approximately 600 runners and walkers taking to the streets for this first event. The event was able to bring together generations of FORTIS from class of 30s to present students, along with alumni and well-wishers from neighbouring schools who came out to “Show their school colours”. The patrons and sponsors alike were delighted with the management and staging of the event and have all recommitted their support for next year and have hailed the route as one of the best on the 5K road racing circuits. Race direction was provided by Running Events Limited through their race director and special honouree Alfred “Frano” Francis who carefully managed the race ensuring the safety and quality of the event for the many patrons.

Quite fittingly, the inaugural run top male awards were captured in a perfect trifecta by Kingston College Track and Field athletes:

1. DOMINIC POWELL 17:24
2. PTOLEMY HAYDEN 17:49
3. BRIAN GOLDING 17:58

And, the female side,
1. KARLENE BLAGROVE 20:47
2. ARIETA MARTIN 21:01
3. JANETTA ROBINSON 21:39

The top walking awards went to:

1. ROHAN GORDON 28:49
2. ANDRE SMITH 29:18
3. VIVIAN LAWES 31:49

And, on the female side,

1. PAULA SINCLAIR 35:28
2. JACQUELINE RUTTER 38:01
3. NORLENE CORNWALL 39:21

There were many other sectional prizes and notably, senior FORTISAN Roy Thomas 86 years old won the over 70 category in 44.27 minutes.

Our associate sponsor NCB went away with the corporate team award and also for having the largest corporate team of 131 registrants.

Special honours and citation were given to Trevor “TC” Campbell by Dr. Ray Fraser and Alfred “Frano” Francis by Victor Henry for their outstanding contribution to track and field management and administration and for road racing development throughout Jamaica.

Global sporting brand PUMA has partnered with the school in the staging of this event as the title sponsor. Other sponsors were NCB, Hi-Lyte, SportsMax, Best Dressed Chicken, LASCO FOODS, Running Events Jamaica, VM Wealth Management, FAME 95, HITZ92 FM, RJR94 FM, Jamaica Observer, Rainbow Awnings, Freshhh Juice and Fruit Drinks, The Gleaner Youthlink Magazine, Guardsman Group, JPS, Main Events Group, iprintdigital, Genesis Finance Services,  Bella Oasis Day Spa, Lumitec & Konnexx Communications.