By Robert Balajadia

With a $1000.00 cash prize on the line in the Bank Of Guam Ifit 5k, runners Charlie Epperson and Meiko Carey were the first male and female to finish the event.

Epperson was facing a three-way battle between runners John Aquino and Derek Mandell as all runners finished just seconds apart. Epperson finished with an unofficial time of 15:21 while Aquino came in 15:27 and Mandell 15:30.

“We all bunched up after the first mile and both those guys have quicker leg speed than me and I knew I couldn’t beat them down the home stretch,” admitted Epperson. “I tried to put in surges coming down the backroad and [Aquino] was going back and forth with me and I felt I needed to surge if I were to have any chance of winning. I got lucky, I felt like Derek was going to blow past me at the end because I didn’t know where he was at.”

Epperson’s plan worked as he stayed ahead of Aquino and Mandell for the final stretch despite their best efforts.

Mandell had previously set the course record in 2012 finishing the event in 14:56.

Carey, a veteran to running and cycling, finished in 19:20 and appeared to be the leading female for most of the race.

Top Males (Unofficial Times)

Charlie Epperson 15:21

John Aquino 15:27

Derek Mandell 15:30

Top Female (Unofficial Times)

Meiko Carey 19:20

OFFICIAL RESULTS TO COME SOON…

PHOTO GALLERY:

First place Male finisher Charlie Epperson.

First place Female finisher Mieko Carey.

Runners are off during the conch blowing if the 2014 BOG Ifit 5K.