Cleveland Forde outpaced and then out-sprinted two Brazilians and two Colombians to win Gold for Guyana in the 5000-metre event at the VIII South American Games currently underway in Argentina.

According to Guyana's Chef de Mission, from a field of 17 starters, Forde won an excellently structured race in a time of 14:07.08. Second was Brazilian, Bernardo DaSilva in a time of 14:09.76 and third Brazilian, Sergio DaSilva who clocked 14:09.95. The two Colombians finished fourth and fifth.

According to Adonis, Forde was confident going into the race, and he set himself in position from the start in the middle of the pack. Adonis said by the fourth lap it was a six-man race and with five laps to go, forde made his move and settled into second between the two Brazilians.

He then surged to the lead briefly with three laps remaining, and pressured the Brazilian into exerting himself to regain the lead with two laps left.

Going into the last lap, Forde was right on the heels of the Brazilian, and with 300 metres to go, he passed the Brazilian on the turn and despite a last effort on the Brazilian's part, Forde had enough left to win the race going away from the pack.

The Golden Arrowhead fluttered proudly in the evening breeze as the Kenyan trained Guyanese received his medal.