The last leg of United Way's 1999-2000 campaign, a "Walk Fun Run," Sunday from the Coast Guard Dock to Frenchtown and back, was run by 214 legs, or 107 people, to be exact. Add four more, actually, for Gabby Hayes, a giant Schnauzer, ( the only one in his category), owned by Andrea and Steve Martin.
Along with Hayes, a broad cross section of the island participated in the event. The youngest was Ryan Bastin, at three months and change, with Corrine Lockhart, 76, laying claim to the oldest, for which she won a prize. J'Fredo Vensen, at two years, also won a prize. He was smiles ear to ear as he was held in the air to show off his trophy.
Lockhart wasn't available for an interview, but Bastin, son of Monica and Mark Bastin, gave freely of his time. Though he had a spiffy purple jogging stroller, he didn't really win a prize, but he took this news in stride. "Though I certainly wouldn't brag, this is my personal best," the youngest Bastin said. He added that he has been training for about three months.
Luis Caldeira won the men's first prize at 12:43, (minutes and seconds), and Grace Tuma took the women's first at 14:08. Caldeira was very excited, damp and grinning. " I won the Martin Luther King, too, last Sunday," he admitted, at Tuma's urging. Though he has been running for some time, these are Caldeira's first race attempts.
The event, which started at 4:30, was sponsored by United Way in conjunction with the St. Thomas Association of Roadrunners. Yanick Bayard, United Way president, was pleased with the community involvement, and the enthusiasm of the participants. The Civil Air Patrol and the Girl Scouts were posted along the race route, dispensing water, and directing traffic.
The 1990 class of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School was represented by a hardy group of ten alumni, all plopped down on the waterfront together afterward in their purple school sweatshirts, looking exhausted but happy.
A sister brother team, Kira and Ricky Gumbs, made off with both awards for the 15 year old and younger categories. Kira, 10, and Ricky, 9, finished just ahead of Xandi Treml, 11, of the Blades Fencing Club, who was all smiles and very proud of his 20:04 time.
Corporate awards for the most race participants were won by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, with MSI Building Supplies coming in second.
