Most Competitive BVI Sunrise Half Marathon Ends With Record Run

December 6, 2016 by

By BVI Mile Split / Dean Greenaway

Grenada's Renon Radix, center, USVI's Shane DeeGannes, left and Antigua and Barbuda's Kalique St. Jean, battling at the 10-miles mark, making it the most competitive race in its 11-year history. Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Grenada’s Renon Radix, center, USVI’s Shane DeeGannes, left and Antigua and Barbuda’s Kalique St. Jean, battling at the 10-miles mark, making it the most competitive race in its 11-year history. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

It wasn’t the fastest, but definitely the most competitive race in the the 11-year history of the Deloitte-Ogier BVI Sunrise Half Marathon, that ended with St. Thomas’ Ruth Ann David improving her own course record on Saturday.

The men’s pace was set by Grenada’s Renon Radix, Antigua and Barbuda’s Kalique St. Jean and the USVI’s Shane DeGannes, a 3-peat champion who was second last year, battling over the first 10½ miles, before DeGannes was dropped. Radix and St. Jean dueled for anther mile before Radix went clear for the victory.

“I thought the head pack set a decent pace early in the race so it was good going and to the end. I had to work a bit but it was wonderful,” Radix said. “I didn’t know the route so I had to bait someone who did and the Antiguan and I basically stayed with Shane for a while. I knew once you go out and turn, then I would have memorized and mapped the route, because coming back was about six miles. I knew the course then, so it was a bit of waiting, then start injecting a bit of pace and see what they had. It was a cat and mouse game for the last five miles.”

After dropping DeGannes, Radix said he knew St. Jean is a 5000m runner and the last three miles would be a battle. “I don’t know what happened but in the last mile, he just backed off and I took the opportunity to go ahead hard to the finish,” he said after running 1 hour 20 minutes and 57 seconds. “It’s the first time I’ve won a race out of my country so I could care less about time. I’m just happy that I won.”

St. Jean said on the return, the wind was beating in his face and he was trying to stay with the pack, execute a good race and finish strong. “My hamstring started to hurt a bit and I slowed because the pace was hot, hot,” he said after running 1:21.24. “But, I’m happy with my time. It’s a personal best.”

DeGannes said it was a fast race and was glad Radix and St. Jean came. “We ran about a six minute pace going out, those guys made me do all the work, then dropped like a 5:45 around mile 7, 8, and it started rocking,” he said noting he didn’t have Gatorade. “It stared getting faster at mile 10, that’s when those guys started taking off and I just dropped off. Tried my best, but, I couldn’t hang on.”

Julius Farley passed the BVI’s top runner Reuben Stoby and placed fourth. “I didn’t want the girls beating me today – that was my motivation,” he said. “I saw the times they ran which was pretty impressive so I went out and tried my best. I’m surprised and thankful, because Reuben has been beating me all year. After I seized the advantage, I just kept pushing on.”

Stoby who was with the pack for the first two miles, faded to fifth and held off David by .01 at the line. “I’m disappointed and I wasn’t able to keep up after the first two miles – maybe the many races this year took its toll because I ran three minutes off what I ran last year,” he said. “I was at least expecting a personal best if not a victory. So I’m disappointed.”

In the women’s race, St. Thomas’ David and Grenada’s Kinesha Pascal engaged in a duel before the defending champ pulled away to finish sixth overall.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to get here because I had no money,” said an emotional David who crossed the line in 1 hour 30 minutes and 21 seconds to break her course record of 1:30.46 and collected $750 including $250 for taking the record, after an early battle with Grenada’s Kinesha Pascal. “I want people to understand how true and how God will be there for you if you just trust in Him. Don’t trust in people to be there for you, trust in Him to see a way and He’ll always make a way.”

David praised Pascal for helping her performance. “If she wasn’t here, I think it would have been harder for me to keep my pace in the beginning – she helped me to set a good pace,” David noted. “We are running together for about five or six miles and Reuben Stoby too, he also helped.”

Pascal was happy with her 1:32.37 personal best effort. “It’s a great improvement from the 1:37.25 I did at home two weeks ago,” she said, which also improved her 1:34.40 best. “It was the second time I’m running with Ruth and the first over a half marathon. I guess she had a better advantage because she knows the route and it’s my first time, but, I’m happy with my performance.”

Final Results and awards
Men: 1. Renon Radix, Grenada, 1 hour 20 minutes and 57 seconds. 2. Kalique St Jean, Antigua and Barbuda, 1:21:25. 3. Shane DeGannes, USVI, 1:25:28. 4. Julius Farley, 1:27:09. 5. Reuben Stoby, 1:30:20. 6. Guy Williamson, 1:36:48. 7. Curwin Andrews, 1:44:18. 8. Ishwar Persad, 1:46:50. 9. Adrian Dale, 1:47:24. 10. Sam Malpas, 1:49:00. 11. Michael Ennis, 1:49:03. 12. Rodrigo dos Santos, 1:49:26. 13. Guy-Paul Dubois, 1:49:26. 14. Richard Morris, 1:50:29. 15. Owen Walker, 1:55:08. 16. Charles Kerins, 1:56:38. 17. Daniel Mitchell, 1:56:55. 18. Richard Morgan, 1:58:59. 19. Aaron Gardner, 1:59:25. 20. Gabriel Obregon, 2:00:49. 21. Patrick Ormond, 2:02:18. 22. Sergio Dantas, 2:02:58. 23. Shane Donovan, 2:03:35. 24. Ray Wearmouth, 2:07:26. 25. Daniel Russell, 2:08:04. 26. Adrian Dawes, 2:10:34. 27. Dennis Versoza, 2:12:37. 28. David Mathews, 2:25:06. 29. Laurent Keeble-Buckle, 2:30:03. 30. Jonathan Addo, 2:30:43. 31. Edward Alvis, 2:36:06. 32. Bill Kinkead, 2:37:26.

Women: 1. Ruth-Ann David, USVI, 1:30:21 (New course record. Old record, David, 2015, 1:30.46.) 2. Kinesha Pascal, Grenada, 1:32:37. 3. Maria Mays, 1:41:27. 4. Lisa Parfitt, 1:51:43. 5. Rosmond Johnson, 1:56:05. 6. Melisande Rowe, 1:57:09. 7. Katrina Lindsay, 1:58:42. 8. Claudia Ferrari, 1:59:11. 9. Elsa Fonseca, 2:00:21. 10. Gillian Plaxton, 2:01:08. 11. Rachael Mayo Smith, 2:01:46. 12. Becca Knight, 2:02:28. 13. Kay Reddy, 2:09:16. 14. Jenny McIvor, 2:09:49. 15. Janet Lewis, 2:13:17. 16. Deborah Bell, 2:13:36. 17. Anna Kinkead, 2:16:46. 18. Karrina Stead, 2:19:32. 19. Casey McNutt, 2:19:39. 20. Richie Paul, 2:20:51. 21. Rachael Matthews, 2:22:27. 22. Geri Dawes, 2:22:37. 23. Natasha Ruscheinski, 2:23:54. 24. Kerry-Ann dos Santos, 2:23:54. 25. Natasha Gunney, 2:24:05. 26. Laura Malpass, 2:28:30. 27. Simpa Ganadillo, 2:37:26. 28. Brenda Pickering, 2:37:50. 29. Barbara Pinnock-Smith, 2:38:05. 30. Candace A Grant, 2:38:06. 31. Nedy Ador Dioncio, 2:43:30. 32. Claire Santillan, 2:57:13. 33. Ryan Wendt, 2:57:40.

Women Power Walker: 1. Lisa Bridson, 2:48:21. 2. Shirley Liburd, 3:24:21. 3. Sheron Griffith, 3:35:18. 4. Nerissa August, 3:35:18. 5. Kelly Smith, 3:37:05. 6. Patrice Miller, 3:37:05.

Oldest Participant: Bill Kinkead.

Veteran male: Curwin Andrews

Veteran Female: Kay Reddy.

Corporate Cup

1. KPMG Endurance, (Kim Struiken, Russell Crumpler, Chris Farmer), 1:44:28

2. Rawlinson & Hunter/Ogier, (Rebecca Clark, Clifton Struiken, Derek Rawlins), 1:44:27.

3. Harneys 1 (Jessica Broderick, George Weston, Matthew Howson), 1:48:35

4. Runs & Poses – KPMG 1, (Jacques Roux , Lovat Carnelly, Steve Langford), 1:51:35.

5. BDO (Krystal Blackman, Guyp DuBois, Ryan Geluk), 1:56:51.

6. Harneys 3 (Jonathan Addo, Stuart Cullen, Tate Gotosa) 2:11:58.

7. Deloitte (Natasha Rusheinski, Aurelie LeGangneux, Martin Perez), 2:27:40.

8. Baker Tilly (Laurent Keeble-Buckle, Hadley Chilton, Kara McCracken), 2:32:56.

9. Harneys 2 (Rahel Worede, Nadine Joseph, Joanna Hossack), 2:54:35.13.

Team Relay

1. JulesSmith (Chris Smith, Julianne Potgieter), 1:45:24.

2. Brute Squad (Paul and Anjali Mellor) 1:48:42.

3. Tek Dat (Julien Johnson, Adenike Secard, Marvin Flax) 2:08:58.

4. The end of the Boks (Johnnie Bailey, Cayley Smit) 2:15:36.

5. Big Mac (Nylross Jalova, Ravenal Santos, Mitchelle Fos) 2:25:50.

6. Tap it and Run (Ryan Wendt, Odalis Peña) 3:03:41.

Corporate Challenge

1. Carey Olsen (Patrick Ormond, Katrina Lindsay, Rachael Matthews),

Costume – Failing to decide who had the best abs awarded as a group to “The Spartans” (Daniel Mitchell, Guy-Paul Dubois, Rod dos Santos, Gabriel Obregon)

Traveled the Furthest to Participate – Adrian and Geri Dawes (New Jersey)

Spirit of the Event – David Matthews, new runners and PAW fundraiser

Best Water stop – Claire “Turn Point” Burke, Honourable Mentions: Ogier (Music), Sensus (Toga Party), Deloitte (electrolytes!)/VISAR.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , , , ,

USVI’s David Demolishes BVI Sunrise Half Marathon Record

December 7, 2015 by

By Dean Greenaway / BVIAA

USVI's Ruth Ann David, left, established a new course record and was followed by the BVI's Kartina Crumpler and Virgin Gorda resident, Kim Takeuchi Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

USVI’s Ruth Ann David, left, established a new course record and was followed by the BVI’s Kartina Crumpler and Virgin Gorda resident, Kim Takeuchi Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Ruth Ann David of the U.S. Virgin Islands, demolished the four year-old Deloitte-Ogier BVI Sunrise Half Marathon course record on Saturday, while counterpart and defending champion Shane DeGannes-the only 3-peat winner in event history-saw his streak snapped. The race was presented by the BVI Tourist Board and the BVI Athletics Association.

David, who came within .10 of Meriel Stedman’s 1 hour 34 minutes and 09 seconds in 2012, wasted no time in showing her hand, as she was among the top five for much of the first half of the race, before charging home in 1:30.46. With victories in 2013 and 2013, but missed last year’s event, she joined the BVI’s Rachel McDonald as the second three times winner.

“I knew I could do it but I wanted to do one twenty something-1:29 at the highest-but it was okay,” David said. “I felt good actually, it was just that I slowed down after the eight mile mark because I wanted to push for the eight and I shouldn’t have done it, that was a bad tactic. After looking at the watch, I picked it up, was doing good then when the squall came through, it pushed me back a bit and I had to push through it.”

David, who was followed by the BVI’s Katrina Crumpler in 1:39.30 and Virgin Gorda resident Kim Takeuchi in 1:44.50, said she knows she can get under 1:30 and getting the record was special, something she always knew she could do. “I want to bring it down lower,” she said. “This is a nice course. This is the best Half Marathon I’ve ever run and I’ve run on five different courses.”

DeGannes controlled the race for the first half before St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Pamenos Ballentyne made his move and went on to win in 1:19.18. It was the fastest time since 2010 when Ballentyne was third in 1:09.50. DeGannes finihsed second in 1:24.09, followed by Virgin Gorda resident Vincent Fouriner in 1:24.19.

“Shane ran a very good first half, he set the pace which I’m very happy about and he was about 50m meters ahead of me until we made the turn together,” Ballentyne noted. “That’s how I planned to run the race, to take the lead at the halfway point. I had a good race and finished very strong. Shane also ran a good race.”

DeGannes said he welcomed leading Ballentyne in the first half and welcomed chasing him in the second half.

“I backed off a bit and he kept hammering just under six minutes pace,” DeGannes stated. “But, I’m not satisfied with the time. I always try to go under 1:20 here and I think Ballentyne did that. Once he ran away from me, I lost sight of him and hanged on to second place. I have St. Croix Half Marathon this weekend and I wanted to hold something in the tank.”

Race director Kay Reddy who has run in all ten editions said the event is growing and was happy with how things went.

“This event was just flawless, really have to give thanks to the Royal BVI Police Force who were out monitoring the route they were fantastic,” Reddy noted. “We had lots of spectators in the course so thank to the community for the support.”

Race founder Simon Cook who was 15th overall in 1:44.20, described the race that had 141 participants 89 of them as individual entrants the others on relay teams, as ‘absolutely awesome’ and it was great to see so many people out.

“When we started, we started in the dark in West End and there were no lights,” he fondly recalled. “Here this morning, we have the big lights on, (on the A. O. Shirley Grounds), the new track down and we had such good support on the road. I’ve been really blessed to be in the BVI and take part in such an awesome race.”

When told his vision lives on, Cook said apparently it does.

“You know, I didn’t run as a kid; I didn’t run when I was in my 20s,” he noted. “I used to suffer badly from anxiety and depression and started running and sorted that out. I came here, people were running and we did the Half Marathon and to see all these people out and enjoying themselves, living life, is just great, really great.”

Final Results:

Men

  1. Pamenos Ballentyne     1:19:18.
  2. Shane DeGannes   1:24:09.
  3. Vincent Fournier  1:24:19.
  4. Reuben Stoby  1:26:58.
  5. Julius Farley  1:29:12.
  6. Guy Williamson  1:31:05.
  7. Rodrigo dos Santos  1:35:18.
  8. Ian Montgomery  1:36.56.
  9. AlexanderP.I. Dale  1:37.37.
  10. Jacques Roux  1:37:46.
  11. Curwin Andrews  1:38:54.
  12. Simon Cook  1:44.20.
  13. Michael Killourhy  1:47:13.
  14. Ishwar Persad  1:48:58.
  15. Richard Morgan  1:50:15.
  16. Michael L Sheesley  1:51:04.
  17. Garbriel Obregon  1:51:40.
  18. Russell Crumpler  1:51:50.
  19. Adrian B. Dale  1:52:15.
  20. Claude Walker  1:52:47.
  21. Adam Holdt  1:53:46.
  22. Shaun Reardon John  1:54:03.
  23. Shane P. Donovan  1:55:34.
  24. Adam De Monte  1:57:04.
  25. Christopher Farmer  2:00.38.
  26. Daniel C. Mitchell  2:03:16.
  27. Guy-Paul Dubois  2:03:30.
  28. Ray Wearmouth  2:08:38.
  29. Jonathan Addo  2:10:13.
  30. James Drury  2:12:13.
  31. Dennis Versoza  2:14:29.
  32. Dr. Garfield Neita  2:19.06.
  33. Jim W. Cullimore  2:34:11.
  34. Howard Moore  2:38:31.
  35. Liam J. Hardie  2:44:34.
  36. Bill Kinkead  2:48:05.

Women

  1. Ruth A. David  1:30:46.18.
  2. Katrina Crumpler  1:39:30.
  3. Kim Takeuchi  1:44:50.
  4. Rebecca A. Paull  1:45:56.
  5. Maria Mays  1:46:34.
  6. Rosmond A. Johnson  1:48:04.
  7. Caitlin Goodwin  1:51:54.
  8. Rachael F. McDonald  1:52:34.
  9. Melissa Brunner  1:52:49
  10. Katy E. Allen  1:52:58
  11. Jenny L. McIvor  1:53:29.
  12. Ami L. Sweeney  1:55:20.
  13. Gillian Plaxton  1:55.56.
  14. Tameka Davis  1:57:08.
  15. Claudia Ferrari  1:59.19.
  16. Kay Reddy  2:01.01.
  17. Lauren H. Julien  2:01.29.
  18. Ni Made Oniasih  2:03:04.
  19. Anna M. Kinkead  2:04:54.
  20. Judith Haycraft  2:05.21.
  21. Elaine McCann  2:06.52.
  22. Sarah Hayes  2:07.20.
  23. Marianne Cave  2:08.27.
  24. Deborah Bell  2:08:35.
  25. Kerry-Ann dos Santos  2:09:04.
  26. Natasha H. Ruscheinski  2:09.04.
  27. Chloe Harris  2:09.25.
  28. Melisande F. Rowe  2:11:36.
  29. Rhiannon D. Jones  2:13:13.
  30. Camille McCutcheon  2:16:00.
  31. Zoe J. Bickerton  2:18:02.
  32. Laura Dore  2:21:56.
  33. Clair Burke  2:24:30.
  34. Debbie Ridgeway  2:26:08.
  35. Natasha C. Gunney  2:27:00.
  36. Karrina Stead  2:37:38.
  37. Barbara M. O’Neal-Rhoden  2:42:09.
  38. Nedy Ador Dioncio  2:46:55.
  39. Jenny A. McConnell  2:50:16.
  40. Shirley Patricia Liburd  2:50:22.
  41. Jill R. Farley  2:57:50.
  42. Amber Walker  3:05.04.

Also participated: Lisa O. Brown, Meredith MacKie

Power Walkers:

Men: 1. Steven Bridson, 2:50:35.

Women: 1. Linda Li, 3:12:35.   2. Sophie J. Bennett, 3:12.40.

Oldest Participants

  1. Bill Kinkead   2. Jim Cullimore

Veteran Male:  Curwin Andrews.  Female:  Kay Reddy

Corporate Cup Relay:

  1. Harneys 1: (Gregory Boyd, Ian Montgomery, George Weston), 1:49:41.69.
  2. Grant Thornton: (Sam Ouriach, Paul Frey, Simon Cross), 1:58:10.
  3. Appleby Adam and the Ants, (Adam Holdt, Judy Haycraft, Andrew Willins), 2:00:13.
  4. Harneys 2: (Jessica Brodrick, Natalie Bell, Macia Payne), 2:02:32.
  5. Team Krys: (Robert Shiffman, Sean Cordes, Sarah Duncan), 2:03:46.
  6. KPMG Spartans: (Stephen Langford, Lucinda Ford, Lovat Carnelly), 2:08:07.
  7. Deloitte1 (Dylan Bobb, Tia Beckmann, Sophia Addas), 2:09:02.
  8. Deloitte 2 (Aurelie Legagneux, Shevon Williams, Maria Kristina Balangatan), 2:15:10.
  9. Team Carey Olsen: (Sharon Mungall, Rachael Matthews, Andrew Chissick), 2:22:07.
  10. BDO Binder: (Jovan Van Heerden, Ryan Geluk, Florencia Taray), 2:36:22.
  11. Harneys 3: (Shonda Alfred Leacock, Rahel Worede, Richard Parchment), 2:37:17.
  12. KPMG Formidables: (Catherine Jackson, Kerry George, Khoyisha Stoutt), 2:56:51.
  13. Deloitte 3: (Lennesha Morgan, Carlene Romney, Delice James), 3:04:40

Team Relay           

  1. Tek Dat: Marvin Flax, Julien Johnson, Chris, Barbara Pinnck-Smith, 1:52:00.
  2. Team Elizabeth Ricardo, Richie Paul, Jules Potgeiter, 1:55:50.
  3. Team Guy-Paul Dubois & Dara Smith, 2:07:39.
  4. Team Katie Morley & Kata, 2:21:09.

Corporate Challenge         

  1. Maples (Guy Williamson, Katrina Crumpler, Jenny McIvor), 5:04:04
  2. KPMG (Jacques Roux, Russell Crumpler, Christopher Farmer), 5:30:14
  3. Ogier (Alex Dale, Michael Killourhy, Ray Wearmouth), 5:33:28
  4. Appleby (Adam Holdt, Judy Haycraft, Chloe Harris), 6:08:32
  5. Cedar Grade PTA (Anna Kinkead, Rhiannon Jones, Garfield Neita), 6:39:13.

Costume – Guy-Paul Dubois – Bavarian Lederhosen and Claudia Ferrari & Elaine McCann – Santa’s Elves

Traveled the Furthest to Participate – Elaine McCann (Scotland)

Spirit of the Event – Team USVI – we love you Guys!

Best Water Stop – Sensus/BVI Tourist Board (we love you too)

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,