Oct. 2, 2005 — Fifty people finished Sunday's five kilometer run organized by the St. Thomas Association of Roadrunners (STAR). The race produced no course records and featured no t-shirts but some really good running took place over the 3.1 mile course and promising new talent showed itself.
It was the 24th running of the event.
University of the Virgin Island's David Hartzell held off a strong challenge from Bruce Sewer to finish first among open males in 18 minutes 59 seconds. Sewer's time was 19:09 and Nate Ross closed fast to finish third in 19:19. For the women, Simone Francis bettered her last year's time by 15 seconds to finish first in 24:18. At race end, a mix-up with duplicate numbers prevented her and others from being recognized in the correct finishes, according to a release from the organizers. Melissa King, who won last year's women's race, finished second in 25:25 with Cheryl Ross third in 25:35.
Young women (under 18) were led by Shardnay Gumbs (35:33) with Andrene Willette second in 37:36 and Lekia Gumbs third in 38:50. This year's young men under age 18 were very impressive with Kyron Correa leading the race bravely over the first part of the course. His 20:01 placed him in fourth place overall and first among young males. By easing up at the finish he just missed breaking 20:00. Kian Jno-Baptiste was second in 22:05 and Clement Williams third in 23:01.
Although a separate competition category for over 50 was not recognized at the race, these runners deserve some comment. Winner of STAR races in the recent past, 55 year old Jean Pierre Bacle finished fifth overall in 20:24. Behind him, Wayne Branch was 15th overall in 23:53. . STAR stalwart Frank Jackson finished in 25:02, sandwiched between two 63-year-olds — Joseph Crawford (24:19) and Niles Pearsall (26:12). Finishing in time of 31:27, Margot Murray was the only woman in this category. At the other end of the age spectrum, the 19th place finish of 13-year-old -Anthony Pippen (23:50) should also be noted.
For the moment, the male and female course records remain intact. The male record of 16:08.9 was set in 2003 by Ethan Kreul of UVI. Regina Radazza of St. John holds the women's record of 19:06 set in 2002. Complete results of today's race follow below.
1. David Hartzell – 18:59
2. Bruce Sewer – 19:09
3. Nate Ross – 19:19
4. Kyron Correa – 20:01
5. Jean-Pierre Bacle – 20:24
6. Joshua Felice – 20:53
7. Mike Sheesley – 21:06
8. Lionel Loblack – 21:51
9. Brad Kappel – 21:53
10. Kian Jno-Baptiste – 22:05
11. Gabriel Lopez – 22:34
12. Eric Heikkila – 22:34
13. Glen — 22:54
14. Clement Williams – 23:01
15. Wayne Branch – 23:01
16. John Barger – 23:30
17. Matthew Smock – 23:37
18. Joel James – 23:41
19. Anthony Pippen – 23:50
20. Dale Joseph – 23:53
21. David Walters – 23:54
22. Simone Francis – 24:18
23. Joseph Crawford – 24:19
24. Jonathan McKenzie – 24:35
25. Jason Belle – 24:47
26. Fay Hsu – 24:58
27. Frank Jackson – 25:02
28. Melissa King – 25:25
29. Cheryl Ross – 25:35
30. Niles Pearsall – 26:12
31. Maria Isabel Hernandez – 26:18
32. Runner # 418 – 27:30
33. Adrianne Baird – 27:56
34. Julian Register – 27:59
35. Jesse Farley – 28:39
36. Runner # 417 – 28:51
37. Margo Lynch – 29:09
38. Rebecca Brahm – 29:48
39. Shanna James – 29:50
40. Kristin Barton – 31:23
41. Margot Murray – 31:27
42. Runner # 412 – 31:30
43. Sonia LeBlanc – 31:39
44. Kate Barger – 31:40
45. Shardnay Gumbs – 35:33
46. Amber Knight – 37:28
47. Andrene Willette – 37:36
48. Lekia Gumbs – 38:50
49. Sharifa Willette – 38:50
50. Lisa LaPlace – 39:33
For additional information about this race, call Roy Watlington at 776-3647 or e-mail: [email protected].