The Virgin Islands Triathlon Federation held its third event in the Junior Tri VI series on Sunday, Feb. 9. Rotary Mid-Isle hosted and sponsored the annual duathlon event. Over 50 kids from 14 different schools and individual home schools, including many newcomers, participated in the run/bike/run race at Altona Lagoon Park.
The youngest group (ages 5-6) kicked off the morning with a .25-mile run, .5-mile bike then a .5-mile run. After the first run, Kaeden Gleason was the first off the bike and held the lead through the second run, finishing in 8:28. Aden Rojas, from AZ Academy, and Cai Clays, Home School, crossed in a tight 2-3 finish. Lyla Boyan was first for the girls. Maria Wilson and Allegra Ferreras were second and third, respectively.
The 7-8 category was filled with "veteran" racers. Mason Lambert of Good Hope Country Day School (GHCDS) remained unchallenged for the entire race. He finished the .25-mile run/.5-mile bike/.25-mile run in 7:48. Classmate Joey Croney was second, while Aslan Boyan was third. Kirra Lambert was the first place girl (2nd overall). Meg Claeys pushed the pedals harder than Lydia Wilson to make a gap on the bike portion of the race. They finished with silver and gold, respectively.
No stranger to the podium in the 9-11 category is Mikey Dizon-Bumann from GHCDS. With a slight lead on classmate Brice Richards in the first .5-mile run, Dizon-Bumann broadened the distance on the 1-mile bike and finished nearly one minute overall ahead of Brice. Rockwell Elser, of GHCDS, was third. The female field was led by "turbo-charged" T’Anna Lake, from Free Will Baptist School. She hung on to leader Dizon-Bumann in the first run and then continued with a strong bike and final run. Shanice Muller of AZ Academy was second and Cehara Briscoe of GHCDS was third.
The oldest yet smallest group waited patiently for the start of the .5-mile run/2-mile bike/1-mile run. The 12-15 year old athletes were led by soccer player Jett Blaschka of GHCDS in the first run. Blaschka held his lead as they covered many laps around the park and finished in 21:00. Kolby Springer-Fabio of Central High was second and Bevern Sage of Elena Christian was third.
One of the event coordinators, Theresa Harper, attributes the success of the race to the many sponsors and volunteers at the event. "It’s wonderful to see so many community members and businesses contributing time and resources to the kids. We’re working together to promote the ‘Get Fit for Life’ goal," Harper said. The GHCDS Interact Club, Sugarmill Media, Tom Peil and JKC Communications were also sponsors.
The next race on the Junior Tri VI schedule adds in the swim for a full triathlon. It will take place on Sunday, March 2, at Cramer’s Park. For more information, call 513-2707.

February 9, 2014 JUNIOR TRI VI — Complete Results
Rotary Mid-Isle Duathlon, Altona Lagoon Park, St. Croix (beautiful weather)
Place — 5-6 year olds — .25 mile run/.5 mile bike/ .25 mile run — total
1 Kaeden Gleason 0:08:28
2 Aden Rojas 0:09:14
3 Cai Claeys 0:09:14
4 Todakie Bassue 0:09:16
5 Lyla Boyan 0:09:22
6 Ryan Morrehead 0:10:09
7 Maria Wilson 0:10:13
8 Parker Sheraw 0:10:33
9 Ajhi Briscoe 0:10:39
10 Riley Stuart 0:11:43
11 Cole Sommer 0:13:17
12 Connor Bass 0:16:53
13 Allegra Ferreras 0:17:29
Anthony Peguero DNF
Rex Andrews DNF
Place — 7-8 year olds — Total — .25 mile run/.5 mile bike/ .25 mile run
1 Mason Lambert 0:07:48 /0:01:56 /0:03:11 /0:02:41
2 Kirra Lambert 0:08:24 0:02:08 0:03:23 0:02:53
3 Joey Croney 0:08:35 0:02:09 0:03:17 0:03:09
4 Aslan Boyan 0:08:54 0:02:27 0:03:07 0:03:20
5 Milo Miller 0:08:59 0:02:25 0:03:09 0:03:25
6 Meg Claeys 0:09:09 0:02:28 0:03:19 0:03:22
7 Lydia Wilson 0:09:42 0:02:26 0:03:49 0:03:27
8 Rodney Moorehead 0:10:27 0:02:03 0:04:35 0:03:49
9 Brandon Peguero 0:10:32 0:02:24 0:04:50 0:03:18
10 Malea Elvins 0:10:39 0:02:44 0:03:31 0:04:24
11 Y’zell Bengoa 0:10:47 0:02:15 0:04:50 0:03:42
12 Odin Andrews 0:10:51 0:02:50 0:03:10 0:04:51
13 Aidan Ferreras 0:11:15 0:02:29 0:05:00 0:03:46
14 Izzy Rodgriguez 0:11:27 0:02:44 0:04:15 0:04:28
15 Aidan Bass 0:11:43 0:02:54 0:04:26 0:04:23
9-11 yr olds .5 mile run/1 mile bike/ .5 mile run TOTAL run bike run
1 Mikey Dizon-Bumann 0:14:30 0:04:28 0:04:31 0:05:31
2 Brice Richards 0:15:29 0:04:43 0:05:08 0:05:38
3 Rockwell Elser 0:16:14 0:04:48 0:05:26 0:06:00
4 T’Anna Lake 0:17:20 0:04:29 0:06:33 0:06:18
5 Shanice Muller 0:19:03 0:05:19 0:07:20 0:06:24
6 Steven Hardee 0:19:32 0:05:55 0:06:15 0:07:22
7 Hezron Bannis 0:19:55 0:05:55 0:05:47 0:08:13
8 Yeremy Peguero 0:20:17 0:06:09 0:05:38 0:08:30
9 Cehara Briscoe 0:20:24 0:05:22 0:07:21 0:07:41
10 Erin Andrews 0:20:52 0:06:01 0:06:47 0:08:04
Sydney Kuntz 0:20:52 0:05:24 0:07:24 0:08:04
11 Jason Strahn 0:28:17 0:05:50 0:13:42 0:08:45
Kalani Watkins DNF
Place/ 12-15 year olds/total/ .5 mile run/2 mile bike/ 1 mile run
1 Jett Blaschka 0:21:00 /0:03:39 /0:07:56/ 0:09:25
2 Kolby Springer-Fabio 0:23:38 0:03:46 0:09:38 0:10:14
3 Bevern Sage 0:24:09 0:03:54 0:08:12 0:12:03
4 Dominic Pugliese 0:26:44 0:04:19 0:09:50 0:12:35
5 Fen’yan Cassius 0:27:58 0:04:30 0:10:06 0:13:22
6 Ashton Patalidis 0:33:47 0:04:19 0:13:39 0:15:49
7 Sarah Hardee 0:36:02 0:05:56 0:11:47 0:18:19
Dundre McKenzie DNF 0:04:25 0:09:04