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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal sportsYoung Runners Flock to Opener of STX Cross Country Series

Young Runners Flock to Opener of STX Cross Country Series

Elementary school age girls take off on the one-mile course at UVI. (V.I. Pace Runners photo)
Elementary school age girls take off on the one-mile course at UVI. (V.I. Pace Runners photo)

Almost 200 student runners from a wide age-range were on hand Wednesday at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix for the opening of the 4H/V.I.Pace Runners Cross-Country Series.

Weather conditions were ideal for the event, which was held in collaboration with the St. Croix Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The Pace Runners provided the following breakdown of race results.

– The day’s first race was the elementary school girls. Akyra Joseph of Eulalie Rivera School led the way over the one-mile course in 7 minutes 25 seconds. Her teammate Amyah Eddy was second in 7:50 and Kiera Lambert of Good Hope Country Day School was a very close third in 7:52.

– The second race saw some 70 elementary school boys toe the start line. Mason Lambert of GHCD nipped his teammate Kaedon Gleason at the tape for first place in 6:05; Gleason was second in 6:07 and teammate Joseph Freeman was third in 6:47.

– The male and female junior varsity runners ran together to take advantage of the dwindling light. Mickey Dizon-Bauman breezed through the two miles in 11:11, followed by teammate Brice Richards, who finished with a time of 12:20. Teammate Makari Mathew was third in 12:32.

Rory Ramsdell, GHCD, led the JV females through the two-mile course to win in 16:54. Teammate Josie Calhoun was second in 17:04 followed by Ashlyn Morel of John H. Woodson School in third at 18:36.

– The varsity males ended their race over 3.1 miles in the dark behind the winner Reshawn Ferrell of St. Croix Educational Complex High School with a time of 19:42. Second place went to his teammate, Isaiah Caul, who finished in 20:39, and third was Nyan Bansal GHCD in 21:44.

Jusenia Tuitt of SCEC led the varsity girls the same distance with a time of 23:06. Julie Klutz of St. Croix Central High School was second in 27:49 and Kelsey Bohla GHCD was third in 28:03.

– Juan Robles had the fastest time of the day over the 5k course for open runners in 17:50 and Randal Nielsen was second in 22:29

The second race in the series will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The organizers urged all who participate in the cross-country series at the UVI campus course to adhere to the parking requirements and park in designated parking areas only, not in the grass area adjacent ot the student parking lot.

The organizers also noted that the UVI campus is an adult setting. Parents, guardians and coaches are required to chaperone their students, children, athletes at all times, particularly to and from restroom facilities, transportation or otherwise.

The running course for the races is identified with cones.

“Since there are no hard barriers protecting the route, all spectators/non-runners are urged to honor the right of way for the runners by insuring that you do not obstruct the route for the runners at no time particularly at the start and along the finish stretch,” the Pace Runners’ news release said. “Limit crossing the course as much as possible and carefully look for runners at all times when approaching/crossing the course.”

Full results are online at the V.I. Pace Runners website.

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