A small group of dedicated marathon runners made the second marathon ever held in the Virgin Islands a historic one.
The St. Croix International Marathon, run New Year's morning at the Sunterra Carambola Beach Resort, is listed as the only official marathon in the world to be held on the first day of the "new millennium." V.I. Olympian Marlon Williams, competing in what might be his last marathon, was the overall winner with a time of 3 hours 8 minutes and 24 seconds. He was the only participant who has competed in both St. Croix races, the first held in April in 1979 when he finished third with a slightly faster time.
Williams has since competed in over 30 marathon, including three Olympic Games marathons.
St. Croix’s Jo Shim was the overall female winner with a time of 3:42.54. A veteran marathoner, Shim has proven over the years to be one of the Virgin Islands' strongest marathon runners ever and has attained international ranking as masters performer.
Leopold Fredericks of St. Croix was successful at his first attempt at the marathon and finished second in 3:15.57; George Cannon, a St. Croix attorney and a veteran marathoner, also of St. Croix, took third place in 3:16.18; Peter Alter of St. John and organizer of road races on that island, was fourth in 3:38.37; St. Croix’s Kevin Burton, after completing his first marathon in Minnesota in October, was fifth in 3:47.25; Rey Ruiz, in his first marathon, was sixth in 4:47.46 and St. Croix attorney Tom Alkon, met the challenge of the hills, the heat and the humidity of St. Croix's north shore and finished seventh with a time of 5:42.37.
Zina David of St.Thomas was the second female finisher with a gallant effort and a time of 3:57.53; Kathy Mc Murtrie of St. John, a strong third in 4:16.20; and Pam Lee from Memphis, Tennessee, was fourth in 5:49.50.
Three runners from Chicago, Susan Dailey, James Hahikian, and John McEnroe, perhaps victims of the severe weather change, and Theresa Harper, who is recovering from injury and the weather transition, did not finish.
Gunnar Sanden, a veteran of over 40 marathons, had a late and unofficial start, yet put in a solid performance with a time of 3:28.48 which puts him high on the over-60 category in the international masters ranking.
The next race on the V.I.Pace Runners Calender is The Children Race on Friday Jan. 5 at 11 a.m., the race is for children 13 and under and starts at the Jiffy Mart and finishes at the Scale House on King St. in Christiansted.
The Distance is 800 meters. The 20th Three Kings Mile will be held on Saturday Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. It is open to runners of all ages and starts at the Harwood Hospital and finishes at the Scale House.
More information is available at 777-0258 or online by clicking here.
