Oct. 7, 2002 – On Sunday 29 runners toed the starting line in front of the Fort Christian parking lot on St. Thomas for the 21st Founder’s Day 5-Kilometer Run. When they reached the finish line next to the University of the Virgin Islands' Sports & Fitness Center, the 3.1-mile race had been covered in excellent times by two bright stars on the distance-running horizon.
Brandon Smith was first overall in 18:34, while Regina Radazza led the women (and all but two of the men) to finish less than a minute behind. Her time of 19:06 is being reviewed as a possible women’s course record. Finishing second overall and first in the adults section, Michael Hughes recorded a time of 18:42, with Steven Burkholder (19:34) and Thomas Petri (20:54) in pursuit. Finishing behind the adult women’s leader were Grace Tuma (23:45) and Kim Fitzpatrick (25:47).
Smith is a student at Antilles School and a member of its cross-country team. Radazza lives on St. John and made a special effort to get to Charlotte Amalie just in time for the start. Other up-and-coming stars appeared among the runners brought or encouraged by coaches Therese Hodge, Dale Joseph and Mario Toussaint. McCordie Prentice, for example, posted 19:44 to take second in the under-18 male category with Henry Belle exactly one minute behind. The familiar face of Charley Charles led the under-18 women, as her 23:08 earned first place, ahead of Tyfia Lee (27:39) and Crystal Joseph (30:40).
Complete results are below.
The first running of this event took place on Oct. 11, 1982, and involved little more than the drawing of a chalk line on the ground and the use of a stopwatch. The formation of STAR, the St. Thomas Association of Roadrunners, was a direct outcome of the fun and camaraderie those early participants experienced.
RESULTS
ADULT WOMEN
Regina Radazza (19:06)
Grace Tuma (23:45)
Kim Fitzpatrick (25:47)
Kristin Tuohy (26:01)
Becky Petri (27:47)
Jesse Farley (27:51)
Jennie Wentworth (28:15)
Lisa Wisehart (31:57)
Shirley Edwards (42:23)
ADULT MEN
Michael Hughes (18.42)
Steven Burkholder (19:34)
Thomas Petri (20:54)
Peter Alter (21:01)
Frank Jackson (23:49)
Bruce Sewer (25:20)
Roi Simmonds (25:35)
Stephen Hodge (27:52)
Mario Toussaint (30:40)
YOUTH WOMEN
Charlie Charles (23:08)
Tyfia Lee (27:39)
Crystal Joseph (30:40)
YOUTH MEN
Brandon Smith (18:34) {First Overall}
McCordie Prentice (19:44)
Kian Jean-Baptiste (21:23.4)
Luis Guillen (21:23.7)
Henry Alexander (23:08)
Theodore Luke (25:28)
Lenny Phillip (27:36)
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