Oct. 7, 2007 — The 25th running of this 5-kilometer footrace brought out long-time supporters of the St. Thomas Association of Roadrunners (STAR), but also highlighted some new running talent.
Overall winners were Elliot Sheffield, who led the men with a time of 19:56:00, and Jessica Chung, finishing first among women in a time of 22:38.51. Sheffield, a 47-something 400 meter trackster, had to use his sprint speed to secure his win from teenager Jerome Bute, had who led for parts of the race and finished in 19:56.30. In turn, Jerome out-ran his fellow teenagers, finishing comfortably ahead of Shaquille Edward (20:59.64), Dexter Hippolite (21:51.0), Jared Knoy (22:33.06), Robert Arrindell (24:28.64), Sean Cheetam (24:29.16), and Joselito Mateo (27:43.49).
Chung led the women from start to finish. Her time of 22:38.51 was two minutes ahead of second-place finisher Simone Francis (24:42). Both are regular winners or top-finishers at STAR races. Simina van Cliff finished third in 25:51.32. Although awards weren’t given in other age groups, the excellent efforts of over-40 runners Glenn Miller, who finished 4th overall in 21:11.0, and Mark Pippen (22:41.21) must be recognized.
Similarly female runners in the open category were very well represented by Patricia Mahoney (29:41.9), Stephanie Jones (31:08:33) and Gaylin Vogel (31:19:34). Three walkers, Judith Edwin, Lisa LaPlace and Dianne Thomas, finished together strongly in 50:19. Experienced STAR runners Joe Crawford and Frank Jackson, who have run this race many times in the past 25 years, represented the founders in the competition, while other STAR founders and regulars served as race volunteers.
Teenage and sub-teen girls were absent from this year’s running, but Nicholas Midler was there to represent sub-teen boys, finishing ahead of his dad, Andre, in 29:50.17.
Technically speaking, when this race was first run 25 years ago, it wasn’t actually a STAR event. Instead it was the event that brought the people together who would then organize STAR and establish a schedule of regular races. Some of those races from STAR’s first calendar will soon mark their own 25th anniversaries.
STAR’s next two events will be the 9th Annual Strides Against Breast Cancer (2 mile) Walk/Run (Oct. 28) starting at 4:30 p.m. at Port-of-Sale Mall and the 24th Annual V.I. 10K which starts at 6:30 a.m. at Splash & Dash.
For more information, call Roy Watlington at 777-8183 or email him.
